44 MBBS students from GMC Haldwani fined Rs 11 lakh for ragging juniors

Haldwani: Within a month of completion of MBBS admission, the Government Medical College in Haldwani is again facing allegations of ragging. Already 44 medical students belonging to the institute are facing action for ragging their juniors.

While one student has been expelled from the hostel and the authorities have imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, the other 43 students were slapped with a fine of Rs 25,000 each. 

The Principal of the medical college Arun Joshi has informed PTI that the ragging incident took place on December 9, 2022 and he came to know about the incident the same day after one of the ragging victims reported the matter to him.

It was informed by the students that the first-year MBBS students were called and verbally abused by seniors. According to a video, they were also called to a hostel room and forced to strike the cock's pose.

After receiving the complaint, the anti-ragging committee investigated the matter and the students were found to be guilty. The Principal further informed that the action was taken against the students on Sunday on the basis of the recommendation of the anti-ragging committee.

Also Read: Shaven Heads, Hands tied back: Alleged Ragging video at Haldwani Medical College goes viral

The anti-ragging committee meeting was attended also by city magistrate Richa Singh, SP (city) Harbansh Singh and social worker Kusum Digari besides the members of the panel.

All students involved in the incident were summoned to the meeting and the offenders confessed to what they had done with their juniors.

While commenting on the matter, SP (city) Harbansh Singh told the Times of India, "The allegations of ragging were confirmed against a second year student and 42 others who had made a group video call to 13 juniors who were told to dress and walk in a certain manner while bowing their heads in front of seniors. Interestingly, the offenders are the same students who were ragged last year and made to walk around the campus with their hands tied behind and heads bowed down. Their parents have been informed and called in. "

This is not the first time that GMC Haldwani is facing such allegations of ragging. Earlier this year, Medical Dialogues had reported about the instances of ragging at Haldwani Medical College. Back then the matter had come to light after a suspected ragging video, showing students with tonsured heads walking in queue with hands behind their backs shocked the social media.

At that time, along with the investigation by the authorities, a division bench of Uttarakhand High Court had also ordered a probe and directed the police to complete the inquiry within two weeks and register it as a criminal case.

While considering the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in connection of the alleged incident of ragging at Haldwani Medical College, the Uttarakhand High Court had also formed a committee to probe the matter.

Also Read: HC Committee to probe allegations of ragging at Haldwani Medical College