Hospital Bed Allegations Shake Dharamshala College: 19-Year-Old Student’s Death Raises Troubling Questions

A 19-year-old BA student, Pallavi, from Siddhawadi near Dharamshala, died on December 26 while on oxygen support. Before her death, she made serious allegations against a geology professor and several fellow students of Dharamshala Degree College, accusing them of molestation, ragging, mental torture and assault.

Pallavi had failed her first-year exam in July 2025 by one mark and was later expelled. When she sought re-admission in September, she was advised to apply for re-evaluation. She alleged that a professor insulted her and forced her out of the classroom, after which she stopped attending college and slipped into severe depression.

Her family claimed Pallavi was beaten and harassed by students. Despite treatment in Dharamshala, Tanda, Pathankot and Ludhiana, her condition worsened and she became bedridden by October. Complaints were made to the Chief Minister’s Helpline, and a video statement was recorded. Police visited on December 21, but could not record her statement due to her critical condition.

Videos of Pallavi on oxygen support went viral on January 1, in which she accused Professor Ashok Kumar of inappropriate touching and mental torture. In another video, however, she described the same professor as “good,” leading to confusion. The college administration and some students denied the allegations, claiming there were no written complaints and that her distress was linked to academic failure.

The family has alleged negligence by the police and administration, pointing out that no post-mortem was conducted. An SC/ST angle has also been raised, though the accused professor belongs to the Dalit community.

Following a complaint by Pallavi’s father, police have registered a case against three students and one professor under charges of harassment, indecent touch and assault. The UGC has ordered a separate inquiry and constituted a fact-finding committee. The investigation is ongoing.

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