Rag victims can seek police help

by Manjula FERNANDO

The victims of ragging in universities and higher educational institutes can now call police emergency hotline 119 to seek help, the University Grants Commission announced last week.

Police Spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer yesterday that when a call is received the police emergency will immediately tip off their mobile units who will then visit the place and arrest the culprits if they find foul play.

"119 can be dialled by anyone who has been threatened with violence, there is no law preventing university students from doing so."

He added that IGP Mahinda Balasuriya has in fact made a special announcement last week that the victims of ragging can dial 119 for help.

The University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake has rejected the common notion the police will not be allowed entry to higher educational institutions and universities to conduct investigations. "Police have the right to enter university premises as they are institutions funded by the Government," he said.