NEW DELHI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in India's top technology institute have suspended as many as 22 students for ragging their juniors.
The incident took place recently in Indian Institute of Technology's (IIT) Kanpur campus in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, but came to light just several days later. IIT runs many campuses across the country, including in Delhi, and produces engineers.
"While 16 students have been suspended for three years, six others were placed under suspension for one year. However, these students will able to resume their studies only after the end of their suspension period," an official said Tuesday.
However, IIT-Kanpur has not filed any police complaint against the 22 students for ragging their juniors.
"But these students will not be allowed to stay on campus and can resume studies when their suspension ends. The decision taken will send a strong message to students to say no to ragging and maintain decorum," IIT-Kanpur Professor Manindra Agarwal told the media.
Ragging is a form of physical abuse often meted out to college newcomers.
Under Indian laws, ragging is banned in educational institutions and the Supreme Court has also made heads accountable for any instances.
All academic institutions take written undertaking from students during admission that they will not indulge in ragging. But physical abuse of junior students continue across campuses with a majority of the victims choosing to remain silent.
