Ragging row: Student forced to perform namaz at Maharashtra’s private medical college; 2 staffers suspended | Mumbai News

PALGHAR: An alleged ragging incident at a private medical college hostel in Maharashtra’s Palghar district has led to police action and the suspension of a hostel warden and a teacher, after a female student was reportedly forced to perform namaz, according to news agency PTI. The incident occurred on Sunday night at the institute located in Posheri village of Wada taluka. It triggered tension on campus and drew protests from right-wing groups, following which police were deployed to prevent any disturbance. Police registered an FIR on Monday night. Early findings indicate that the episode may be linked to ragging, an official said. According to the complaint, the victim is a first-year physiotherapy student from Nashik. She alleged that while she was on the fifth floor of the hostel, she was stopped by a girl whose face was covered. The accused allegedly tried to force her to perform Islamic prayers and continued to pressure her even after she refused, leaving her frightened. “The victim informed her family the following morning, who then approached the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) after allegedly receiving no response from the college management,” a police official said. Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh visited the campus to assess the situation. “We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act. We are scanning the CCTV footage and recording statements of other students to identify the accused,” SP Deshmukh said, adding that strict action would be taken against those found guilty. Amid public outrage, the college administration suspended a hostel warden and a teacher as part of its immediate action. VHP activists later submitted a written complaint to the police, demanding a high-level probe into the college’s functioning. They claimed that similar incidents had occurred earlier as well. However, a representative of the college management denied these allegations, stating that no such incident had taken place in the past, while assuring full cooperation with the police investigation. Police deployment remains heavy in the area to ensure peace and maintain communal harmony.