College Street: Calcutta University has set up a fact-finding committee to probe a complaint of ragging at New Law Hostel near Vidyasagar College in north Calcutta that houses law and Sanskrit students.

Four students of the Sanskrit department had complained to Calcutta University (CU) vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee on November 9 that they had been ragged by some law students.

The complainants, later joined by other students of the department, started a sit-in outside the VC's office on Wednesday afternoon, accusing the authorities of sitting on the complaint.

The students also complained that senior law students had threatened them after the complaint was lodged.

The demonstration was withdrawn on Friday afternoon after CU registrar Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborti, spoke to the protesters. Dhar Chakraborti is a member of the fact-finding committee.

One of the complainants said they were harassed mentally over the past few months.

"We were made to enact obscene gestures and dance to loud music. The hostel superintendent did not take action though he was informed about the harassment. So we had to lodge a complaint," he said.

Another complainant said the students felt unsafe in the hostel as they were allegedly under constant threat from the seniors. "We want protection," he said.

VC Chakravarti Banerjee said she had told the protesting students on Thursday morning that a committee had been formed to look into the allegations. "The committee is looking into the complaints. The registrar and our Board of Residence are part of the committee. We will act after we get the report," she said.

The VC also said two policemen of Amherst Street police station have been posted outside the hostel round the clock to ensure the students' safety. "I visited the hostel on Thursday night," she said.