Dharamshala: Every time there is outrage over assault on women in India, we hope and pray that the criminals will learn a lesson. And every time the offenders prove us wrong by repeating such heinous acts.
Two days after a woman was allegedly gangraped in a moving van in Faridabad, news surfaced of a college student dying after being sexually harassed.
A case was registered on Thursday following a complaint by the victim’s father about the 19-year-old college student succumbing to injuries while undergoing treatment at a Ludhiana hospital, PTI reported.
The complainant alleged that three senior female students — identified as Harshita, Akriti and Komolika — assaulted his daughter, a second-year student of Government Degree College, Dharamshala, in an act of brutal ragging on September 18, 2025, and threatened her to remain silent.
The complaint also named Ashok Kumar, a professor in the college, as one of the accused.
The father claimed that his daughter suffered from high stress due to the professor’s alleged indecent behaviour and mental harassment. This led to rapid deterioration in her health condition.
The girl, who was hospitalised following the assault and harassment, died on December 26 during treatment.
The father added that a complaint could not be lodged earlier as she was traumatised, even in hospital.
Himachal police have registered a case under sections 75 (sexual harassment), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009.
Kangra Superintendent of Police Ashok Ratan said all allegations were being thoroughly looked into, and medical records, video evidence and statements of all concerned being examined.
Student’s viral video before death
The case came into limelight after a video, allegedly recorded by the victim while undergoing treatment and counselling, went viral on social media.
The victim accused the professor of indecent acts, mental harassment and intimidation when she objected to his behaviour.
As per preliminary inquiry, the student faced ragging by some students after enrolling in the college in 2024. She stopped attending college after failing in the BA first-year exam, the results of which were declared in July 2025.
After her name was struck off the college rolls, the girl reportedly visited the college in September seeking re-admission, only to be informed that she would be promoted to the second year only if she cleared the re-evaluation test. Otherwise, she would have to re-enrol in first year, PTI reported.
The accused professor has denied the allegations. He has received support from fellow teachers as well. In his statement, the professor said the girl was in her class in an earlier academic session, and was not his student in the current session.
