Victim of ragging in Bhubaneshwar recovers in Bangalore

A nineteen-year-old student, who had been paralyzed waist down after his seniors reportedly threw him off the terrace of the hostel in Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, underwent a successful spinal stabilization surgery at a hospital in Bangalore.

Shiv Shankar Ash, a student of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, was brought to Bangalore by train with a lumbar fracture, amidst fears that he may not be able to walk again after the horrifying instance of ragging.

But, doctors at Sagar Apollo Hospital in Bangalore, who performed a surgery, are optimistic that Shiv Shankar will be able to use his legs again. “With physiotherapy, he can walk and come back to normal”, neurosurgeon at Sagar Apollo Hospital Dr Pratap Kumar Pani said.

The doctors reassuring words have instilled hope in Shiv Shankar’s father, brother and uncle, who too had travelled to Bangalore.

Shiv Shankar was reportedly summoned to the terrace of the hostel in the University campus earlier this month and was allegedly pushed down, leading to the fracture of his legs and spine.

Shiv Shankar’s father regrets the incident and hopes such a misfortune does not befall anybody.

According to family sources, the police in Bhubaneshwar had taken up a case of ragging, but Shiv Shankar has so far not named his tormentors. Apparently, the victim of the ragging does not know the names of his seniors, who allegedly ragged him.

The investigation into the case is expected to pick up only after Shiv Shankar identifies his tormentors.