KEM hospital Ragging case: Protest held over alleged laxity in investigation

Mumbai: Days after an FIR was filed against 17 people of KEM hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas in an alleged case of ragging involving caste discrimination, a protest was held by the student and social workers within the premises of the medical college alleging that there is laxity in the investigation.

The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported the allegations by the complainant saying that the Bhoiwada police officials are lagging the case, with no arrests being made yet.

The Jati Ant Sangharsh Samiti standing with the complainant had said that they would be organizing a protest at KEM hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Also Read:KEM hospital ragging case: No arrests made yet, Complainant seeks immediate action

In the incident, a third year student of Occupational therapy at GS Medical College, coming from a marginalized community, was harassed with casteist remarks by around 12 medicos and doctors of the college, following which an FIR was registered by the Bhoiwada police. The Medical Dialogues team had reported earlier about this.

The protests were held peacefully outside KEM hospital carrying banners of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi in their hands.

However, the complainant alleged that no arrests has been made yet in the incident. He subsequently held a protest and demanded that the former dean of the college should be booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reports the Indian Express.

The student said, "It has been two days but the police have made no arrest. The police aren't investigating the matter properly."

Speaking to the media organization, NDTV, the student said that he was threatened of being thrown down from the top and was always asked to keep his voice low by the accused medicos. He added that they used to abuse him using casteist slurs.

The social worker, Subodh More said that it was the college's responsibility to file an FIR in this situation, however, the college did not file an FIR till date. More added that it looks like the college did it intentionally, since it doesn't look like a negligence.

The dean of the college had said that they have established two anti-ragging committee claiming that they overruled allegations of ragging. The dean had said, "The committee has found some instances of misconduct…We have sent notices to the students…", adding, "Now, it is up to the police to investigate allegations of atrocities."

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