Nasim Pahlwan, an engineering student at Haldia Institute of Technology sustained injuries while intervening to stop a fellow student from being ragged. Currently in critical condition, Nasim is undergoing treatment at Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital.
Nasim Pahlwan, a final-year student of mechanical engineering is a resident of the Bishnupur area in the Bankura district of West Bengal. He currently lives in a rented mess outside the college and shares accommodation with another student named Ijaz, whose house is located in the Sabong area of East Medinipur.
A first-year student named Sekh Aftab Hossain enrolled in the Agri-Mechanical Department at the college has been subjected to harassment by certain senior peers, namely Vivek Kumar and Ayush Jha, among others.
Aftab, expressing his frustration, stated, “They pressured me to complete their assignments. Why should I compromise my studies for theirs?” After declining to comply with their requests, Aftab became a target for various types of ragging, facing threats from third and fourth-year students.
After Aftab disclosed the incidents out of fear, he confided in his senior, Nasim, who decided to intervene and put an end to the aggression on Aftab. Unfortunately, Nasim became the target of the aggressive seniors. He was attacked, beaten with a cricket bat, leading to a broken arm and a severe head injury.
Nasim’s father, Syed Pahlwan while talking about the incident said, “We demand justice for the accused. The college authorities should implement measures to safeguard students from ragging incidents.”
Haldia Institute of Technology (HIT) college authorities said that the matter has been deliberated with the college’s anti-ragging committee, and a decision has been made to expel the two accused students and a formal complaint has been filed with the local police station.
Lakshman Seth, Chairman of HIT College in Haldia, said, “I am currently unaware of the incident, but I will investigate it. If substantiated, appropriate action will be taken.”
Kibria Ansary is a journalist based in Kolkata, West Bengal
