👩🎓 Victim & Allegations
A 19-year-old woman, reportedly a second-year student of the Government Degree College in Dharamshala, died on December 26, 2025 while undergoing medical treatment in a Ludhiana hospital. Her family alleges she was subjected to prolonged ragging, physical abuse, mental harassment and sexual harassment at her college, which they say contributed to her deteriorating health.
According to reports and video clips shared by her family, she described repeated inappropriate behaviour by a college professor, including allegedly touching her inappropriately and making advances, and being ragged by senior students.
👮 Police Case & FIR
An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered at Dharamshala based on a complaint by the victim’s father. The charges include:
- Sexual harassment against an assistant professor named in the FIR (identified as Ashok Kumar/Ashok Sharma in media).
- Ragging, voluntary causing hurt and common intention against three senior female students.
These charges are registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009.
The police have taken statements, seized evidence including phones and medical records, and are probing all allegations.
🧑🏫 Professor Suspended & Bail
The Himachal Pradesh government has suspended the assistant professor named in the FIR as part of immediate action. He has been ordered to remain at the Directorate of Higher Education in Shimla and not leave without permission during the inquiry period.
He has secured anticipatory bail and denied all allegations, saying he will cooperate with the investigation.
🧑⚖️ Official Probes & Investigations
🎓 University Grants Commission (UGC)
The UGC has taken suo moto cognisance of the case. It has:
- Registered a complaint through the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline,
- Constituted a fact-finding committee to examine the incident, the institutional response, and compliance with safety norms,
- Called for stringent action if violations are confirmed.
👩⚖️ National Commission for Women (NCW) & State Women’s Commission
The NCW has also taken suo moto notice and condemned the case as a failure of campus safety mechanisms. It has directed:
- Immediate arrest of accused persons,
- Preservation of medical and post-mortem records,
- A fair and time-bound investigation,
- Review and strengthening of anti-ragging and harassment redressal systems in educational institutions.
The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission has also sought detailed reports.
📹 Video Evidence & Family Claims
A video recorded by the victim before her death has circulated on social media in which she names the professor (“Ashok sir”) and describes the harassment she faced. In the clip, she refers to repeated pressure and inappropriate behaviour.
According to her father, the harassment and trauma adversely affected her mental health, leading to depression and anxiety, and she was treated at multiple hospitals before her death.
🏫 College’s Position
The college administration has reportedly stated they did not receive any formal complaint from the student before her death and claimed she was not enrolled in the current year due to academic issues, a point contested by the family and public observers.
🧠 Public Reaction & Campus Safety Debate
The case has triggered widespread public outrage and protests across Himachal Pradesh and online communities. Many demand:
- Justice and strict action against all accused,
- A complete overhaul of anti-ragging mechanisms on campus,
- Better support systems for students who face harassment.
Women’s rights groups, student bodies and civil society voices have called for transparent investigations and accountability of educational institutions to ensure student safety.