Medical board to assess cause of death in Dharamsala college student case

A medical board comprising experts from Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, will be constituted to examine the health status, treatment history and the possible cause of death of a 19-year-old Dalit girl, a student of Government Degree College, Dharamsala.

She died on December 26, 2015 following serious allegations of sustained ragging and physical, sexual and mental harassment.

Superintendent of Police, Kangra, Ashok Rattan has submitted a formal request before the Principal of the Medical College Dr Milap Sharma for the constitution of a medical board, terming its opinion crucial for the ongoing police investigation.

The board will review all available medical records and treatment details of the deceased girl and provide its expert opinion, particularly with regard to her mental health condition following the alleged incidents and the possible causes leading to her death.

The investigation has been complicated by the absence of crucial forensic evidence. The alleged hurried cremation of the body and the absence of a post-mortem examination have deprived the police of vital medical and scientific inputs. No DNA sample could be preserved, making it difficult for investigators to reconstruct the exact circumstances and cause of death. In this context, the medical board’s assessment is expected to play a key role in guiding the investigation.

According to official records, the victim’s father, Vikram Singh, lodged a complaint on December 20, 2025, through the Chief Minister’s helpline. In his complaint, he stated that his daughter Pallavi, a second-year BA (Arts) student at Government Degree College, Dharamsala, had allegedly been subjected to ragging by senior female students and some classmates — identified as Ashika, Aakriti and Monika — around two months earlier. He claimed that following the alleged ragging, his daughter’s health deteriorated, leaving her mentally distressed and physically unwell.

The complainant further alleged that he approached a faculty member, identified as Ashok Kumar, an assistant professor at the college, seeking intervention, but no effective action was taken. He also claimed that he contacted Police Station, Dharamsala, but did not receive any relief. In his complaint, he sought action against the students involved as well as the college administration.

Unfortunately, the girl died on December 26, 2025. The police were not informed in time, and the body was cremated without a post-mortem examination. As a result, the police was unable to record her statement or gather forensic evidence.

Nearly two weeks after the complaint and about a week after the student’s death, the Dharamsala police registered a case on January 1 under Sections 75, 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009, against assistant professor Ashok Kumar and four female students of the college.

It has emerged that after receiving the complaint through the CM’s helpline, a local police team visited the victim’s residence. However, her statement was not recorded. Police sources said the family expressed that she was suffering from severe mental distress and was not in a condition to give a statement at that time. The SP acknowledged that the absence of her testimony has left several aspects of the case unclear.

The police have, however, obtained a video reportedly recorded in October-November, in which the student is seen lying on a hospital bed, visibly weak and distressed. In the video, she names “Ashok sir” and alleges that the professor behaved inappropriately, followed her persistently, touched her inappropriately and made objectionable remarks. Police officials said the contents of the video were being examined as part of the investigation, while the medical board’s findings would establish a clearer understanding of the circumstances leading to the student’s death.