BU curbs seniors’ night entry to hostels housing freshers

Berhampur: Authorities of Berhampur University on Tuesday prohibited senior students from visiting two hostels housing newly admitted students between 9 pm and 6 am, following allegations of ragging of freshers.
“Senior students will not be allowed to visit the new gents’ hostel and Indravati hostel from 9 pm to 6 am,” said Sudhakar Patra, warden of the postgraduate hostels.The decision was taken made during a meeting of the board of residents on Monday.

University Grants Commission (UGC) had instructed the university to investigate the alleged ragging of PG first-semester students in their hostel on Saturday night. “The anti-ragging committee is currently investigating the allegation. The matter is being taken seriously. Stringent action will be taken against students involved in the ragging,” said Sukant Kumar Tripathy, chairman of the PG council and in-charge vice-chancellor.
In addition to the restriction on visits by senior students, the authorities have decided to close the gates of all PG hostels at 10.30 pm, after dinner. Two security personnel each will be deployed in the 16 PG hostels, eight of which house girls. “PG hostel superintendents have been instructed to issue identity cards to all boarders within seven days to facilitate identification during surprise checks and to identify any outsiders residing in the hostels,” Tripathy said.
The anti-ragging committee held a meeting with freshers on Monday evening, encouraging them to report any instances of ragging by seniors on the campus to the university authorities or the panel.
“The counselling session aimed to boost the confidence of PG first semester students,” said Patra.
Sources said an orientation meeting for the freshers will be held after the completion of the PG admission process by the month-end.