IISER gets new anti-ragging cell, crisis-response panel
Times of India | 13 August 2025
Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Kolkata (IISER-Kolkata), on Tuesday set up a new anti-ragging cell to oversee all matters pertaining to ragging and its prevention. It has also constituted an emergency and crisis response committee to deal with exigencies. An IISER official said, "The new anti-ragging cell will be headed by physical sciences professor Arindam Kundragrami. Junior assistant Annie Sunita Kerketta is assigned to this cell, in addition to her existing responsibilities at the student affairs section.
"The twin moves followed the suicide of 26-year-old PhD student Anamitra Roy at the institute. Roy, who had Asperger's syndrome, left behind a Facebook post, in which he detailed how his complaints against a fellow student's insulting behaviour were ignored.
| Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataThe new anti-ragging cell was formed a day after the earlier one was dissolved following complaints from students. The IISER-Kolkata dean of students also resigned from the post. IISER said on Tuesday that a professor in charge of the institute would oversee the functioning of the new anti-ragging cell. "There will be an office that will handle such cases and a dedicated helpline will be there. The cell will function independently," said a statement issued by the institute. The institute, after dissolving the earlier anti-ragging cell, asked the students to suggest names for the new one. IISER has also designated a nodal officer and a co-nodal officer whom students can contact in any emergency and they will also look into any issues related to students. The two officers will work closely with students' representatives and other nominated officials.
After Roy's suicide, a relative had lodged a complaint at the Haringhata PS. Students had alleged the earlier anti-ragging committee had neglected Roy's complaint against a scholar and the supervisor. They also alleged a "conflict of interest" as Roy's complaints were aimed at the dean of students Ayan Banerjee's wife. The institute is also setting up a ‘Wellness & Welfare Committee' with an independent dean as its chair "to strengthen the mental health ecosystem" of the campus. The panel will suggest steps to avoid a repetition of such an incident.
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