Bengaluru college student ragged, assaulted by seniors for not shaving beard | Bengaluru News – Times of India

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BENGALURU: A second-year BBA aviation student of a private college was left with a fractured hand and a forehead injury after he was allegedly ragged and assaulted by his seniors for not following their instructions to shave off his beard and moustache.
The victim, Dhruv (name changed), 21, a resident of Hado Siddapura and from Kerala, is a student of Krupanidhi Group of Institutions in Chikka Bellandur, near Carmelaram, off Sarjapur Road.Three of the accused have been identified as Xavier, Vishnu and Sarath, all studying at the same college.
According to a complaint filed by Dhruv’s father, his son was assaulted by a group of around 10 students in an empty space near St Stephen’s Marthoma Church in Hado Siddapura between 8.30pm and 9pm on Aug 30.
Dhruv told TOI when he walked into the college in April, the three seniors objected to him having a moustache and beard and told him to get clean-shaven the next day.
“I didn’t heed them and went to college without shaving. They got angry and continued to rag me to get clean-shaven. They told me I was not respecting my seniors. They ragged me at least four times on the college premises,” Dhruv said, adding that they even came to his rented house in search of him when he had been to his hometown.
“On Friday evening, one of the three seniors called me over the phone and asked me to meet him near the church as he wanted to talk to me. I anticipated something untoward would happen and went there with my roommates,” Dhruv said.
“The trio was already waiting for me along with a group of seven to eight other seniors. They fought with me over the same issue. They forced me to get a clean shave then and there. When I refused, they abused and assaulted me. I am not sure what objects were used by them, but I ended up with severe injuries,” Dhruv said.
As the group left the place after warning Dhruv of dire consequences, his friends rushed him to a private hospital.
He underwent surgery for the fracture Saturday. The college management promised action against the assaulters. Dhruv’s father told police that when his son was undergoing treatment, the trio came to the hospital and threatened him.
Bellandur police registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 126 (wrongful restraint), 189 (unlawful assembly), 190 (every member of unlawful assembly accountable for offence committed to further common object), 191 (rioting), and 351 (criminal intimidation).
“Since the assaulters are also students, we have served them notices to appear before the investigating officer to record their statements and for necessary action,” a senior officer said.