MKCG Medical College ragging case: 5 MBBS students suspended for 6 months

Berhampur: Based on the recommendation of the anti-ragging committee, the state-run MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Ganjam district has suspended five fourth-year MBBS students from the hostel for six months for allegedly ragging second-year students. 

The names of the five senior students were disclosed after three second-year students submitted a written complaint to the dean of the medical college, Dr Suchitra Dash, on Tuesday. This revelation came after the college's anti-ragging committee was unable to identify the seniors, as no second-year students stepped forward to support the allegations during a meeting with all second and fourth-year students held last week.

In the complaint, the second-year students without identifying themselves mentioned the accused's names and how they allegedly ragged and harassed them mentally and physically at the hostel. 

Also read- MKCG Medical College 2nd year MBBS students allege ragging by seniors, NMC intervenes

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a second-year MBBS student of MKCG Medical College brought allegations of ragging by seniors, prompting the authorities to launch an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the National Medical Commission (NMC) took cognisance of the complaints lodged by the parents of the victim students and directed the Dean of the medical college to conduct a probe.

Several second-year medical students alleged that they were being ragged and harassed by seniors at the hostel. The student claimed that the ragging started when the first-year students shifted to a different hostel after completing their year.

When these students informed their parents about the issue, several complaints started pouring in at the desk of NMC. Taking cognizance of the parent's complaints, the apex regulatory body asked the Dean of the medical college to initiate an investigation.

Following the complaints, the dean on Wednesday asked the anti-ragging committee of the college to look into the matter. In the investigation conducted by the committee, the five seniors were found guilty of ragging the juniors, as per reported by TNIE. 

In a meeting, the 15-member committee disclosed their names and recommended their suspension based on the findings from the investigation. As a result, the medical college authorities barred the entry of the five students into college campus. 

“After receiving the complaints from the NMC, we inquired into the allegation by our anti-ragging committee. But we could not get any evidence of ragging initially. When we got another written complaint from a second-year student on Monday, we again conducted an inquiry and took this decision,”Dash told PTI.

The dean said the students who have allegedly been involved in ragging would be restricted from entering their hostels for six months.

“We can’t tolerate any type of ragging on the campus and strong action would be taken against those involved,” she added.

SP Sarvan Vivek M said the dean has complained to the Baidyanathpur police station against the senior students who were involved in ragging.

“We are inquiring about it and will take necessary action as per law,” said the SP, who is also a member of the anti-ragging committee.

In February, the medical college suspended two fourth-year MBBS students for two months for allegedly ragging a second-year student. 

Also read- Ragging at MKCG Medical College: HC expresses Concern, orders Police Probe