KHARAGPUR: Cops at the Kharagpur police station have started an investigation after IIT Kharagpur lodged a complaint, saying an anonymous call had gone to UGC's anti-ragging helpline on November 8 that some seniors had forced second- and third-semester students to dance and play games through the night, which left them traumatised.

The helpline complaint, which IIT Kharagpur asked police to probe, does not mention anyone's name and refers to the seniors as third- and fourth-year students.

Police said they were trying to identify the hostel and students involved.

According to the complaint lodged by Pramod Kumar, IIT Kharagpur's senior security officer, at the Kharagpur (Town) police station, the ragging complaint was received on the helpline on November 8.

Kumar in his complaint, stated, "I am writing to lodge an FIR/complaint regarding a serious report of ragging...

inside the Institute." The complaint said the victims claimed they were unable to study.

The complaint also said a victim and his batchmates, all in their second and third semesters, were being mentally harassed by seniors.

IIT Kharagpur authorities have urged the police to take "strict legal action" against the perpetrators under the Anti-Ragging Act and relevant IPC sections.

The authorities also requested police to handle the case with "urgency and diligence".

The authorities said a formal statement would be issued but it was not done till last report came in.

IIT Kharagpur director V K Tewari is currently travelling abroad.A senior police officer said, "We have received a complaint from the IIT Kharagpur authorities.

A case under relevant penal sections, including that of ragging, has been registered." According to the police, the FIR was registered on November 9 under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (abetment).

Police have also imposed provisions of the West Bengal Prohibition of Ragging in Educational Institutions Act 2000, which carries a two-year prison term.

The case of another student Faizan Ahmed, who was found dead in a hostel last year, is being probed for possible murder.