By IANS,
Dharamsala : A fast track court in this Himachal Pradesh town Monday resumed the trial against four medical students, accused of ragging to death first year student Aman Kachru last year, after they surrendered last week on cancellation of their bail.
The accused – Ajay Verma, Naveen Verma, Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma – surrendered in a local court here July 29 after the Himachal Pradesh High Court cancelled the bail given to them by the trial court.
“Three doctors (of Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda) and one police personnel deposed before the fast track court of Judge Purinder Vaidya Monday. Six people, including four doctors, have been summoned by the court for recording statements tomorrow (Tuesday),” District Deputy Attorney R.K. Kaushal told IANS.
He said the doctors who recorded their statements included J.B. Singh and K.K. Sharma.
The high court, which had initiated suo motu proceedings after bail was granted to the accused July 17, said: “The order passed by the trial court granting bail to the accused is against law… accordingly quashed and set aside.”
“The trial court would ensure that the trial is conducted from day to day. The court would ensure that no undue and unnecessary adjournments be granted to either side,” Justice D.D. Sud observed in a 37-page order.
Kaushal said the statement of the remaining witnesses, who are mostly doctors and police personnel, would be recorded by the fast track court by Aug 6.
Aman Kachru, 19, died March 8, 2009, a few hours after being allegedly ragged by the four final year students of the Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda town near here.
After the death of Kachru, the state government ordered a magisterial inquiry into his death.
The inquiry report said many first year students, including Kachru, were subjected to intense physical ragging March 7, 2009.
“Kachru collapsed and died due to injuries which the post-mortem report has linked to the incident of ragging,” said the report, holding college principal Suresh Sankhyan responsible for the lapses.
Sankhyan resigned from the post after the incident and a departmental inquiry regarding the incident is still on.