Seniors forced me to give them massage: Dutee Chand opens up on facing ragging in sports hostel

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand opened up about her hostel days following the suicide of an 18-year-old in Bhubaneshwar due to ragging and torture by seniors. Dutee said that she had to give massage to the seniors.

TN Sports Desk

Updated Jul 4, 2022, 11:04 IST

Dutee Chand opened up about being ragged and bullied by seniors following a youngster's suicide because of same in Odisha | Courtesy: Dutee Chand

Photo : Twitter

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Dutee Chand opened up on her struggles with ragging in her hostel days
Dutee said that she had to give a massage to her seniors in the sports hostel in Bhubaneshwar
Dutee's reaction came after an 18-year old committed suicide because of ragging in Bhubaneshwar

National champion sprinter Dutee Chand has opened up about her struggles with ragging and feeling helpless after an 18-year-old girl died by suicide in Bhubaneshwar. Dutee said that she was harassed and mentally tortured by seniors during her days in the sports hostel in Bhubaneshwar.

Reacting to a Facebook post shared by a user giving tips on how to avoid ragging in educational institutions, Dutee said, "Seniors used to force me to massage their bodies and wash their clothes at the sports hostel. When I opposed them, they used to harass me."

Dutee's post came a day after Ruchika Mohanty, a history undergraduate student from Cuttack, wrote in her suicide note that she was mentally tortured and ragged by three of her seniors and that she couldn't take it anymore. The suicide has triggered a huge furor in the state of Odisha.

Dutee, who is part of the Indian relay team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games later in July, said that it got difficult for her to focus on sports as the ragging started affected her mental health as the seniors also commented on her family's social and financial status.

“The incident had an impact on my mental condition. It is very difficult to remain focused on sports after the incidents of ragging and those who survive this stay in the hostel. But many give up and go back home,” she added.

Dutee said that after repeated incidents she even reported to the authorities but no action was taken.

Following Mohanty's suicide, many have started opening up about the effects of ragging they faced in their colleges and hostels.

"When I used to complain to the hostel in-charge, I used to be scolded. It used to take a mental toll on me. I was helpless at that time," the Olympian further added.

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