July 31: The Cotton College principal today expressed serious concern over reports and allegations that some boarders were harassing day scholars and asked various department heads and hostel superintendents to pull up the miscreants.

Principal Udayaditya Bharali issued written instructions to the head of each department and all the hostel superintendents to take punitive action against erring boarders. A formal notice regarding the order was also put on display in front the office of the vice-principal.

Bharali also asked students to lodge complaints without any fear and hesitation if anyone harassed them on the premises.

The principal gave the instructions after the Cotton College Union Society approached the college authorities seeking measures to prevent such incidents. A few students had complained to the union’s general secretary, Samiran Baishya, last week that some boarders harassed them while they were sitting in the corridor.

Baishya said anyone who tried to create a rift among Cottonians should be punished. Welcoming the move, a higher secondary student said the alleged incidents of harassment are not only a matter of concern, but also shame for a prestigious institution like Cotton College.

“At a time when the college converting itself into a deemed university, such unruly behaviour on the part of a section of students is not expected. We should be more responsible and strive to excel in different fields,” he said.

The college had recently formed a committee of hostel superintendents, teachers and students to prevent ragging both in hostels and on the campus.