BJ Medical College Pune ragging case: HOD Orthopaedics removed, transferred

Pune: In strict action in the BJ Medical College ragging case, the Head of the Orthopaedics Department at the Pune-based institution has been removed and transferred to another department. The move comes following allegations of inaction in the ragging incident where four junior postgraduate students were reportedly mentally and physically harassed, and even hot waters were allegedly poured on some of them.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that BJ Medical College suspended three second-year postgraduate students from the Orthopaedics Department and evicted them from the hostel for allegedly ragging juniors.

The action followed a formal complaint received by the college on Monday, alleging that the second-year PG students had subjected four juniors to mental and physical harassment, including the use of threatening language.

Also read- Ragging at Pune's BJ Medical College: Orthopaedics PG medicos Suspended, expelled from hostel

Following the suspension of the postgraduate students, the medical college authorities also removed the Head of the Department, who was accused of neither helping the students nor addressing their complaints when they approached him. He has been transferred to another department at the medical college. 

Sources of Free Press Journal said, "The senior students allegedly harassed the juniors mentally, sometimes physically, and even used intimidating language. The victims even reached out to the HOD of the Orthopaedic Department, but they did not get any help, so they reached out to Mantralaya (state secretariat) in Mumbai. Following this, the investigation was initiated at the college."

However, Dr Eknath Pawar, dean of the medical college, refuted the allegation and stated that he or the HOD did not receive any complaint regarding ragging from the students until Monday, when a complaint from the state secretariat and the students was received. 

Meanwhile, a 15-member anti-ragging committee has been formed to investigate the incident. The members include representatives from the parents' association, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), doctors, and police. The report will be submitted within seven days.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Pawar said, "We received a complaint on Monday afternoon, following which I formed an anti-ragging committee. The committee is currently conducting an enquiry. It has a total of 15 members, which includes representatives from the parents' association, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), doctors, and police. The final report will be submitted in seven days. Additionally, the head of the Orthopaedic Department has been transferred to another department."

The Daily source also added, "The ragging was not just limited to the hostel; the seniors did it in the hospital premises as well, and there were instances of pouring hot water on the victims too. As one of the victims comes from a high-profile background and had connections in Mantralaya, he made the complaint there, following which the probe was initiated."

In response to the hot water pouring allegation, Pawar said, "There is no such case of pouring hot water on students. It's an exaggeration."

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