Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured a fair investigation to the family of a 19-year-old Dalit student who died during treatment on December 26. The student had reportedly faced sexual harassment and ragging at a government college in Dharamshala.
The Chief Minister spoke to the family over the phone on Saturday night. He reiterated the state’s firm stand against harassment and injustice and assured them of all possible assistance, an official statement said on Sunday.
Sukhu told the family that the state government is committed to a transparent, strict and time-bound probe. He said the government stands in full solidarity with the family and will ensure that those responsible are punished under the law.
On Saturday, the state government suspended Ashok Kumar, Assistant Professor (Geography) at Government College, Dharamshala, in connection with the case. The suspension came after an FIR was registered against the professor for alleged sexual harassment.
In his complaint, the student’s father alleged that his daughter was beaten by three senior students on September 18, 2025. He also claimed that the college professor indulged in obscene acts with her.
A video of the student later surfaced on social media. In the video, she accused the professor of mentally harassing her, committing indecent acts and threatening her when she objected to his behaviour.
The father alleged that after these incidents, his daughter slipped into severe mental stress. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died during treatment on December 26, he said.
Apart from the sexual harassment case against the professor, three female students have also been booked. They have been charged with voluntarily causing hurt and acting with common intention under Sections 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to probe the student’s death. The move came after the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline registered a suo motu complaint.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday took suo motu cognisance of the case. It has sought an action-taken report from the Himachal Pradesh Police within five days.
The NCW said it has also asked state authorities to submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within five days. The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste Commission and the state women’s commission have also sought reports from the Kangra Superintendent of Police in the matter.
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