Lucknow, July 30 - The Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad (IIIT - A) administration Thursday said it will soon withdraw the fine and punishment on 19 senior girl students after they apologized for ragging junior girls.

On Tuesday, 19 B. Tech final year girl students were fined for ragging newly admitted girls at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Allahabad.

Besides a fine of Rs.50,000 each, the institute also withdrew the scholarship of the girls expelled from the hostel after the matter came to light.

'The girls have submitted a written apology and have assured that they will not be involved in any such activities in the future. The punishment will be withdrawn soon,' M.D. Tiwari, director of the institute told IANS.

However, the senior girls maintained that they were only trying to help the junior students.

'We were just inquiring about their native place and names. We were trying to ease them of their home sickness,' Prerna Srivastava, a final year student accused of ragging told reporters.

No case has been lodged against the students.