Bangalore: Expressing concern at ragging incidents in colleges, one of which led to the death of a student, President Pratibha Patil on Saturday said if necessary, a law should be considered to curb the practice.

"I am deeply concerned about incidents of ragging which has become rampant in college campuses. I saw the agony of parents who lost their children in a ragging incident," she said, while inaugurating a seminar on Development of Sustainable Rural Health at Suttur near Mysore, about 130 km from here.

"Strict action should be taken to see that such incidents were not repeated," Patil maintained.

The issue should be taken seriously and if need be, legislation should be brought in to prevent it, the president said.

She called for collective efforts by students, parents, teachers, college and university authorities and state governments to end incidents of ragging.

The seminar was organised by the Jagadguru Shivarathri Swami (JSS) Medical College as part of its silver jubilee celebrations. Patil also inaugurated the JSS School girls hostel building.

Ragging has become a major problem in colleges and freshers subjected to ragging go through mental agony due to fear and humiliation, she noted.

"It is a crime against humanity," Patil asserted.

She advised senior students to create congenial atmosphere for the juniors to be at ease in colleges.

Aman Kachroo, a student of a medical college in Himachal Pradesh, died March 8 allegedly after he was severely beaten as part of being ragged by his seniors. The death has again brought the issue under focus. IANS