Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9: Ten students of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), accused of ragging their juniors, have been slapped with a fine of Rs 5,000 each.

The varsity's academic council that met today also decided to keep five other students under conduct probation.

"Of the five students, three have been rusticated from the varsity for a year, while two students have been rusticated from the hostel for a year," said OUAT vice-chancellor Manoranjan Kar.

"The three students will not be allowed to pursue any course of the varsity for a year. On completion of one year, they will be allowed for re-admission and continuation of the course," he said.

"The action has been taken against the students according to the guidelines laid out by the University Grants Commission," said Kar. Authorities said such a stern decision was important in the wake of the rising incidents of ragging in the varsity.

In another development, police are carrying on with their probe into the case. The junior boarders had filed a criminal case against 15 students. The varsity authorities said they provided ample scope to all the students to put their explanations before the committee.

The students have also been warned that if there will be any disturbance or law and order on the campus, they will be the first ones to be suspected.

The incident of ragging was reported from the College of Forestry in November. A group of first-year students of the college had brought allegations of ragging against 15 senior students residing in the college hostel.

The boarders of Pathani Samanta Hostel of the university alleged that the seniors had brutally assaulted them on November 19 seriously injuring some of them.

Later, the senior boarders had forcibly locked up the injured students inside the hostel, so that they could not complain to the authorities.