New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a high-level probe into the death of a 19-year-old student at Government Degree College, Dharamsala, following harrowing allegations of ragging and sexual harassment.

The federal regulator’s decision to constitute a Fact-Finding Committee comes as police in Himachal Pradesh booked a college professor and three senior students in connection with the case. The victim, a second-year student, died on Dec. 26 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana.

"The Commission has taken serious cognisance of this tragic incident," the UGC said in a statement. "Student safety is paramount. We assure that the culprits will not be spared, and stringent action will follow."

Chilling Evidence Surfaces

The investigation gained momentum after a video purportedly recorded by the student before her death began circulating on social media. In the footage, the student identifies a professor by name, alleging he subjected her to "indecent acts," intimidation, and persistent harassment.

The victim’s father filed a formal complaint on Dec. 31, alleging a systemic failure by the college to protect his daughter. According to the complaint, the student was physically assaulted by three senior students, identified as Harshita, Aakriti, and Komolika, on Sept. 18, 2025. He further alleged that Professor Ashok Kumar subjected her to sexual harassment, leading to a "rapid deterioration" of her mental and physical health.

Police have registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and voluntarily causing hurt, alongside charges under the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act.

Allegations of Institutional Negligence

The case has raised sharp questions regarding the college's internal safety mechanisms. While the victim’s father claims his daughter was "traumatised and terrified" to the point of being unable to attend classes, college officials have defended their record.

Principal Rakesh Pathania stated that the college had received no prior complaints of ragging or harassment and noted that the student had been struck off the rolls in August 2025 due to prolonged absence following a failed examination. However, the UGC probe will specifically examine whether the institution’s Anti-Ragging Committee and Internal Complaints Committee were functioning as mandated by federal law.

Local police confirmed that medical records and the viral video evidence are being examined as part of the ongoing criminal investigation. The accused professor has denied the allegations.