NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), gleaming in the success of Chandrayaan-3, has offered technological help to prevent ragging in universities in West Bengal.
The sudden death of a first-year student of Bengali Honours Swapnodeep Kundu allegedly due to ragging at Jadavpur University laid bare the menace of ragging at universities campus across West Bengal. Kundu, who was yet to turn 18, was allegedly harassed at the hostel by seniors and alumni who were overstaying.
“ISRO has offered support of advanced technology to prevent ragging in the university campuses in West Bengal,” said a source from Raj Bhawan.
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ISRO offered technological help after Dr CV Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal and chancellor of the universities, contacted ISRO chairman S Somanath.
The Governor asked the chairman for “identifying appropriate technology to effectively contain and eliminate the menace of ragging in the university campuses”, said an official in close knowledge of the talks.
Governor Ananda Bose has also discussed the issue with the Advanced Data Processing Research Institute (ADRIN), Hyderabad.
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They are trying to develop an appropriate technology solution using multiple sources such as video analytics, image matching, automatic target recognition and remote sensing.
The Jadavpur University vice chancellor has been authorised to take the matter forward.
As per reports, the university campus does not have even CCTV camera coverage to monitor unethical behavior due to opposition from students affiliated with Left organisations.
The West Bengal Governor hastened to Jadavpur University upon learning of the tragic demise of Kundu, merely two days into the academic session. He fell from a second-floor balcony at the boys’ hostel, igniting allegations of ragging. The university has initiated a probe which has to be completed within two weeks.