MBBS student dies after ragging by seniors in Gujarat; college launches probe

The victim fell unconscious and died allegedly after being made to stand for three hours during ragging by his seniors

“An 18-year-old MBBS student of a medical college in Gujarat’s Patan district died after allegedly being made to stand for three hours during ragging by his seniors,” an official said on Sunday (November 17, 2024). The college has started a probe into the incident which took place on Saturday (November 16, 2024).

“Police have registered an FIR against 15 students of the medical college following the death of the student who was allegedly ragged by them,” officials said on Monday (November 18, 2024.)

The accused, all second-year MBBS students, allegedly made some juniors, including the victim, stand in a hostel room for more than three hours on Saturday night (November 16, 2024) and subjected them to “mental and physical torture,” as per the First Information Report (FIR).

“They have booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other offences,” the FIR said.

“The accused students have been suspended from their hostel and academic activities until further orders,” said officials from the GMERS Medical College and Hospital at Dharpur in Patan.

“The victim, Anil Methaniya, a first-year MBBS student, fell unconscious and died allegedly after being made to stand for three hours during ragging by his seniors at a hostel of the college on Saturday night (November 16, 2024),” the college dean Dr. Hardik Shah said on Sunday (November 17, 2024).

“The student was rushed to the hospital after he collapsed, and attempts to revive him failed and he was declared dead. His classmates said Methaniya died after being made to stand for three hours and introduce himself before seniors at the college hostel,” Dr. Shah informed.

Editorial:On continuing acts of ragging

The college’s anti-ragging committee chaired by Dr. Shah took the statements of 26 students — 11 of the first-year and 15 second-year students. “The committee found that 11 first-year students were subjected to ragging by a group of 15 second-year students,” a college official said on Monday (November 18, 2024.)

As per the FIR lodged at Balisana police station, the 15 accused called 11 first-year students, including Methaniya and his classmates, to a hostel room on Saturday night (November 16, 2024) for “introduction”.

They made the juniors stand for nearly three-and-a half hours while forcing them to sing and dance, utter abusive words and not leave the room. Methaniya’s health deteriorated as the students were subjected to mental and physical torture. The victim fainted and fell down at around midnight. “He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” the FIR stated.

Based on a complaint by the college’s additional dean Dr. Anil Bhathija, the FIR was lodged against 15 students under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly, and using obscene words.

Published - November 18, 2024 10:59 am IST