Jadavpur University Faces Safety Concerns After Third Student's Death

The recent death of third-year English honours student Anamika Mondal, who was found drowned in a pond on the campus, has sparked fresh concerns about safety and security at Jadavpur University. This incident occurred two years after a first-year undergraduate student died in the university's main hostel following ragging by senior students. The university has scheduled an administrative meeting to discuss safety and security issues, to be followed by another meeting where authorities will consult students on the measures.

Key Takeaways:

• Jadavpur University has a history of imposing restrictions on students following tragedies, only to have them relaxed under pressure from student leaders.
• A second-year postgraduate student of the Bengali department suggested that such checks should be held round the year, indicating a need for a more sustained approach to security.
• The absence of a full-term vice-chancellor has been blamed for the situation, with the education minister stating that a permanent vice-chancellor is required to maintain discipline in a university like Jadavpur.
• The university's guards have been instructed to check every person's identity card and vehicle before letting them enter the campus, but there are concerns that this may not be enough to ensure student safety.
• Even before this incident, the university had seen instances of students misbehaving with teachers, prompting the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association to appeal to students to stop harassing teachers.
• The Left-dominated Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) had appealed to students to stop harassing teachers in March, citing rampant instances of misbehavior.
• Education minister Bratya Basu stated that the absence of a vice-chancellor had led to a lack of authority on campus, which was a major contributor to the chaos.

Statistics:

• Three students have died at Jadavpur University in the past two years, two of whom were killed in vicious ragging incidents.
• The university has a requirement for students to identify themselves and produce their identity cards before entering the campus, but this may not be enough to ensure their safety.
• The university's guards are checking every vehicle for parking stickers and asking about the purpose of visit, which may slow down the entry process.

Sources:

• "Jadavpur University Death: Education Minister Blames No Full-Term VC, Lack of Authority" by Subhankar Chowdhury and Samarpita Banerjee, ABP News. Date: 2025.