Jadavpur University student death case: WBCPCR exploring POCSO angle

The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights WBCPCR announced on Monday that it is considering invoking the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act in relation to the unnatural death of a firstyear undergraduate student at Jadavpur University Boys main hostelWBCPCR Chairperson Sudeshna Roy stated that while the commission is preliminary of the view that the case falls under the purview of POCSO due to the student being below 18 years of age an official recommendation can only be made once they receive a copy of the First Information Report FIR regarding the incident PTI reportedThe panel has already perused other documents concerning the age of the boy and now ascertaining exactly what he went through on August 9 evening and night at the hostel she saidAs the boy was below 18 years of age the commission is preliminary of the considered view that this case be treated under provisions of POCSO after talking to his family the circumstances leading to his fall and death but official documents like FIR copy is needed for any such final recommendation Roy told PTIWe have asked for an FIR copy filed after his fall from the balcony and his death from the police We have also perused his other documents including agerelated ones And going by the chain of events as narrated leading to the death of the minor prima facie we have reason to suggest that it be dealt with under POCSO she saidWBCPCR advisor Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborty said in a Facebook post the boy should not be identified as he is a Protection of Children from sexual offences POCSO victimThe deceased student of Jadavpur University is a minor and a POCSO victim Kindly do not use his NAME she posted on social mediaThe commission in a statement said on Saturday We are deeply concerned about the incident in which a 17 minor boy a firstyear student of Jadavpur University died under debatable circumstances in the hostel premisesIt is further alleged that his life ended due to dubious behaviour and actions of people who were staying in the hostel some of whom were allegedly outsiders and illegal residents The Commission has taken a grave view of the incident the statement addedRoy told PTI that a letter has been sent to the Governor of West Bengal C V Ananda Bose who is the Chancellor of Jadavpur University requesting him to enquire and take necessary steps that he may see fit and properAlso readIndependence Day 2023 History theme significance here is all you need to knowWBCPCR also requested him governor to kindly share a report with the Commission she saidA letter has also been sent to the Commissioner of Kolkata Police asking for an action taken report and also a report on how such an unfortunate incident occurred within the premises of an educational institutions hostel she saidRoy said the commission has asked for a full list of unauthorised residents and the reasons behind their presenceThe commission has also asked for the CCTV footage of the hostel premises and what came out of it she saidThe university authorities cannot skirt their responsibility Why UGC rules are flouted by not having CCTV in the hostel compound Why gates are open for certain outsiders even at night We have come to know during our visit many such persons have been living even after passing out for years and having unhindered access to the hostel she said narrating her visit to the main hostel for boys on Sunday nightWe were told by a hostel official that he is not allowed to crack whip by some of these people overstaying in the hostel If he takes steps like having CCTV and monitoring some of them would launch movements like gherao immediately she saidThe commission talked to hostel super secondyear students at the main hostel where the incident took place and the firstyear students shifted to a separate hostel building from the earlier one on Sunday evening during the visitBeing 1718 year old boys they are obviously mentally disturbed about the happenings We gently spoke to them to calm them down To ask them about the happenings she added about firstyear studentsThe commission on Sunday also visited the Nadia residence of the undergraduate studentLed by WBCPCR adviser Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborty the team first went to the house of the 17yearold boy in Nadia district and met his family members Later they went to the JU main hostel campus in Kolkata where the student diedChatterjee claimed that the teens death was a clear case of physical assault for which we will recommend stringent punishment against those involved in the unpardonable crimeWe spoke to the family members of the student We were told that he was severely assaulted and cigarette burn marks were found all over his body Chatterjee told reportersThe WBCRCR adviser said This is an unpardonable and heinous crime Those behind his death are all adultsAt the boys hostel the team members were shown the spot where the teen fell from the secondfloor balcony of the hostelThe firstyear student of Bengali honours fell from the secondfloor balcony of the main hostel building around 1145 pm on August 9 and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital the next daySo far two students and an exstudent have been arrested in the case a senior police officer said Agencies