Dharamshala College Student Death: Caste Slurs & Inappropriate Touching Under Scrutiny in HP College

Dharamshala- A 19-year-old Scheduled Caste (SC) student from Government Degree College in Dharamshala, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, died on December 26, 2025, after months of alleged physical, mental, and sexual harassment linked to her caste background. The incident has sparked multiple investigations by police, the state government, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the National Commission for Women (NCW), with the accused assistant professor suspended and granted anticipatory bail.

The victim, was a first-year student who reportedly faced severe ragging on September 18, 2025, at the hands of three senior female students Harshita, Aakruti, and Komolika who allegedly beat her, cut her hair, and struck her with a bottle during a ragging session. This incident contributed to her failing her first-year exams, after which she enrolled in a private computer academy on September 20 at her insistence. Her health deteriorated rapidly, leading to treatment across seven hospitals in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, culminating in her admission to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, where she passed away while on a ventilator.

The victim's father, Vikram Purshottam, filed a complaint with Dharamshala police on January 1, naming the three students and assistant professor Ashok Kumar. He alleged that the harassment included casteist slurs and physical assaults by the seniors, who targeted her due to her Dalit identity. In a video recorded during her treatment at a Pathankot hospital which surfaced on social media on January 1, the victim is heard saying, "Sir would go after me," and nods affirmatively when asked if the professor had touched her inappropriately. She appeared distressed and struggled to speak during the recording.

The professor is accused of sexual harassment, including obscene gestures and inappropriate physical contact. An FIR was registered the same day against the four accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 3(5) (common intention), as well as Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009. Kangra Superintendent of Police Ashok Ratan confirmed that a thorough probe is underway, including verification of allegations, collection of treatment records from the seven hospitals, witness statements, and examination of the video and other evidence. Police have traveled to Ludhiana to record statements from medical staff.

On January 3, the Himachal Pradesh government suspended Professor Ashok Kumar pending inquiry. He was granted anticipatory bail the same day by a local court and has denied the allegations, claiming they are baseless. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated, "Strict action will be taken against the guilty," referencing the viral video of Pallavi's testimony.

Separate fact-finding committees have been formed to investigate. The UGC, acting on a suo motu complaint via its anti-ragging helpline, constituted a five-member panel chaired by Professor Raj Kumar Mittal, including vice-chancellors from Gujarat and Pondicherry universities, tasked with examining compliance with UGC regulations on ragging, sexual harassment, and equity. The report is due within seven days. The state government appointed a three-member committee led by Additional Director of Higher Education Harish Kumar, with three college principals, to submit findings within three days.

The NCW has written to Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police, demanding arrests, preservation of evidence, and a review of anti-ragging mechanisms, with an action-taken report required within five days. The Himachal Pradesh SC/ST Commission and State Commission for Women have also sought police reports, with the SC/ST panel requesting one within 24 hours due to the caste discrimination angle.

The college administration has denied receiving any prior written complaint about ragging and maintains that her death was not directly linked to campus activities, though one teachers' body claimed she was not enrolled in the current academic session. As of January 4, no arrests have been made beyond the suspension, and the cause of death remains under medical and police scrutiny.

Social Media Outrage and Calls for Justice

The case has ignited widespread condemnation on social media, with users highlighting systemic caste discrimination in educational institutions and drawing parallels to past incidents like those of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi. Posts under hashtags #JusticeForPallavi, #StopRagging, and #Dharamshala have amassed thousands of views, demanding inclusion of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act provisions in the FIR and stricter campus safety measures.

A post by India With Congress Youth Wing: "A young life was crushed by cruelty and institutional silence," questioning the Education Ministry's role in addressing student mental health crises. The CPI(M) staged a protest over the death under suspicious circumstances.