Five booked for ragging

Lucknow, Nov 4 : Five students of a government-run polytechnic in Uttar Pradesh have been booked for ragging and torturing a junior, leading to his hospitalization, police said Wednesday.

Pawan Kumar, pursuing his first year civil engineering diploma from Rajkiya Polytechnic in Gorakhpur district, about 300 km from Lucknow, was assaulted by his seniors on the campus Tuesday.

A group of students directed Kumar to polish their shoes. They also told him to smoke a cigarette. Irked by his refusal, they assaulted him. Kumar suffered head and ear injuries, a police officer said.

"A case has been registered against five senior students," police inspector R.K. Singh told reporters. "They are absconding."

D.N. Singh, principal of the polytechnic, told IANS: "The issue is quite serious. We have initiated an enquiry. Strict action will be taken against the students. They might be even expelled."

--IANS