LANDIKOTAL, Khyber Agency: Political Tehsildar Irshad Khan has banned befooling of newly admitted students in Landikotal and Khyber government degree colleges. The Tehsildar warned that anyone found in befooling the new students within our outside the college premises would be face heavy fine, besides being sent to lock-up. It may be mentioned that the Khyber Agency political administration has deputed Khasadar Force personnel around the colleges to curb befooling of new students by the old ones. Befooling or ‘ragging’ has become somewhat of a norm in universities across Pakistan. Befooling or rather assailing with silly questions, ridicule or horseplay, which started in British universities, has also picked up in colleges and universities here. The start of a new academic year is marked by befooling which has now becoming increasingly popular to the extent that ragging is now officially allowed in certain institutions. Seniors students take pride in coming up with new and comic ideas for ragging freshmen, making them sing film songs or reciting anecdotes and perform funny or daring tasks. All this and much more is done as part of ragging in the name of fun and under the pretense of mingling with juniors and helping them to settle. However, there have also been instances when things have gotten out of hand. Considering the potential risks attached to this seemingly harmless tradition, parents and students have welcomed this ban on befooling in degree colleges.