Ragging at Puri Medical College: Seniors Allegedly forcibly shaved off beard of first-year MBBS student, FIR lodged

Bhubaneswar: Ragging allegations have now surfaced at Puri-based Shri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital, where the senior students allegedly shaved off the beard of a first-year MBBS student.

The first-year medico hailed from Rajasthan. Allegedly the senior students questioned the junior's style of keeping a mustache and beard.  TOI adds that the authorities of the medical college conducted meetings for discussing the matter and consequently they started the proceedings.

On the basis of the complaint of the medico, the Dean of the medical college lodged a complaint at Penthakata Marine police station. They urged the police for conducting an inquiry into the allegation and take necessary action. Following this, the police accepted the FIR and started probing the matter after registering the case. 

Both the medical college and the police are conducting parallel investigations into the allegations. Meanwhile, the Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) has also been informed about the incident. As per the official sources, the parents of the first-year medico and the senior students involved in the matter have also been informed.

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As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the incident was reported to the Police by the Dean and Principal of the medical college, Maya Padhi, who wrote to the inspector-in-charge of Penthakata Marine Police Station and mentioned that the alleged incident took place on August 17, 2023.

In the letter, she informed that the first-year medico alleged that he faced ragging from some seniors. Meanwhile, neither the police nor the authorities confirmed whether the seniors forcibly shaved off the beard and mustache of the junior MBBS student.

"After receiving an allegation from the student, we launched a probe from our side. We can provide detailed information about the ragging after completing the inquiry. Following the standard protocol, we lodged a complaint with the local police," Padhi told TOI.

Last year, the State Government issued certain directions to prevent ragging in the State and directed that for every established case of ragging or abutment of ragging, the institute should file an FIR with the local police. Following those guidelines, the medical college lodged the FIR in this case.

Commenting on the matter, the SP of Puri, Kanwar Vishal Singh said, "We have taken this case on a priority basis. The investigation in this matter is underway."

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