[Reader-list] Press Release - ‘Roots in Kashmir’ shocked with the ragging death, demands immediate action and high level probe

[Pawan Durani]

*Roots in Kashmir*

*Campaign Office: New Delhi*

*Blog: www.kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/*

*Website : www.rootsinkashmir.org *

*E-mail: contact at rootsinkashmir.org*



*Press Release*

‘Roots in Kashmir’ shocked with the ragging death, demands immediate action
and high level probe

*Tuesday, March 10th *

*New Delhi:* *‘Roots in Kashmir’ *a frontline global youth initiative of the
Kashmiri Pandit youth condemns the killing of teenaged medical student, who
was ragged and beaten to death mercilessly by his seniors in the Dr Rajendra
Prasad  Medical College, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.19 year old Aman Satya
Kachru who originally hailed from Kashmir breathed his last on Sunday night
in a local Hospital. His family is based in Gurgaon.

“It is a shocking incident and there are unanswered questions surrounding
this most unfortunate killing. The college needs to be held responsible for
this dastardly act by its students inside its premises”, said *Aditya Raj
Kaul*, a senior member of Roots in Kashmir, who has initiated campaigns in
the past for Priyadarshini Mattoo, Jessica Lall and Nitesh Katara cases.

“We demand a high level probe from the Himachal Pradesh Government and an
immediate action against those involved in the torturous killing of this
innocent youth.” he added.

Among a slew of directions issued by the Supreme Court to stamp out ragging,
many were aimed at making educational institutions directly responsible for
acting against the culprits. These included mandatory registration of FIRs
by the institutions whenever a ragging incident comes to light. ‘In this
particular incident no such directions were followed, and instead the
murderers were given free hand to escape as the institution itself remained
as a mute spectator hours into the crime.”

In 2007, senior supreme court judge, Justice Arijit Pasayat had said in a
ruling, “The punishment "should be exemplary and justifiably harsh to stop
recurrence of the ugly incidents". In accordance with the law and the recent
ruling we demand harshest punishment to the accused and their immediate
conviction which sets a positive trend.

The delay and usual lack of action from the local administration and the
college has caused a deep hurt and anguish to the family, relative and
friends of Aman Satya Kachru. A question hanging in the air is that why the
R K Raghavan committee report which has Supreme Courts ruling was not
followed by the said medical college.

The last rites and cremation of Aman Satya Kachru were performed this
morning at the Lodhi Road Crematorium. Hundreds of family and friends bid a
tearful adieu to the departed soul. Among others who attended the cremation
mourning was, *Neelam Katara* who lost her own son Nitish Katara, 8 years
ago at the hands of criminals. She demanded an immediate stern action
against the accused and a stop to ragging.

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