Ragging : Dungarpur, Rajasthan —
Police in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, have filed an FIR against seven senior students from Government Medical College (GMC) following a severe ragging incident that left a first-year medical student hospitalized and undergoing dialysis due to liver and kidney infections. The distressing event has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about student safety and institutional oversight.
The 20-year-old victim reported to the police that he and approximately 50-70 other first-year students were taken to a hill about one and a half kilometers from the college in mid-May. It was there that the ragging occurred under extreme conditions, with temperatures soaring to 48 degrees Celsius. The victim’s father recounted the harrowing details, stating that his son was forced to perform 300-350 sit-ups while others were subjected to even harsher physical tasks.
The student began experiencing severe health issues shortly after the incident. When medical tests revealed significant liver and kidney damage, the family rushed him to a hospital in Ahmedabad on May 22, following urgent advice from doctors. “The doctors said that we brought him just in time and any further delay could have been dangerous,” the father reported. The student was hospitalized for nine days, during which he underwent dialysis four times, before beginning a slow recovery.
The incident was not reported immediately due to the student’s concerns about disturbing his exam schedule, which concluded on June 26. The family only learned the full extent of the situation through consultations with doctors, prompting them to file a complaint with the National Medical Commission (NMC).
Dr. Balamuruganvelu S, principal of GMC Dungarpur, confirmed that they received a complaint via the NMC website. “We formed a committee within 24 hours and investigated the case. We suspended seven students who were involved in the ragging and also lodged an FIR at the local police station,” he stated.
Girdhari Singh, SHO of Dungarpur’s Sadar police station, noted that the police have recorded statements from five students who were also allegedly ragged. He emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and assured that appropriate action would be taken against the accused.
The FIR, filed on June 24, includes charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of common object), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation).
This incident has drawn significant attention to the issue of ragging in educational institutions, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement of anti-ragging laws and more robust support systems for students.
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For further updates on the investigation and measures being taken to prevent such incidents in the future, stay tuned.
