Pune: Disabled girl ragged in college hostel, hospitalized

The family is urging the police to conduct thorough investigations and take strict action against the three girls involved. Meanwhile, the college has highlighted the presence of an anti-ragging committee, which will also look into the allegations.

In a distressing incident, a 19-year-old girl with physical disabilities was allegedly subjected to prolonged teasing and harassment by three of her roommates over the past few months. The situation escalated almost two weeks ago when the three girls reportedly chased her, confined her to a bathroom, threatened her with a sharp object, and even stabbed her twice in her hostel room at the prestigious Sinhgad Institution’s College near Lonavala.

The victim, identified as Kalyani Gajanan Nikam, suffered a stroke due to the traumatic ordeal and was rushed to a nearby hospital on March 12, where she remains in serious condition in the ICU. The police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

When contacted, hostel officials denied the occurrence of any such incident, asserting the safety of the hostel’s residents and mentioning that neither the victim nor her family had previously raised any complaints with the hostel or college authorities. However, the victim’s family has claimed that they informed both the college and hostel authorities about the ongoing harassment, which was allegedly ignored.

Inspector Kishor Dhumal from the Lonavala Rural Police Station stated that they are awaiting the college’s internal report and medical assessments to determine the course of action. However, due to the victim’s condition, she is currently unable to provide a statement.

The victim’s family, speaking to local media, revealed that Kalyani had endured harassment for months, and the recent traumatic incident resulted in her suffering a brain stroke. Her delicate condition has left her hospitalized in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the family fears she may even slip into a coma.

Furthermore, the family reported an alarming threat from the father of one of the accused roommates, claiming to be an army officer, adding to their distress. They implore the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice for their daughter. Meanwhile, the college emphasizes the presence of their anti-ragging committee and pledges to address the allegations accordingly.