Ragging at AIIMS Mangalagiri: 13 MBBS students suspended, Dean steps down after son's name surfaces

Vijayawada: A shocking case of ragging has emerged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Mangalagiri, where 13 out of 15 MBBS accused students allegedly abused and harassed a first-year student, accusing him of misbehaving with female classmates. The harassment reportedly drove the junior to attempt self-harm.

Taking disciplinary action against these students, the AIIMS authorities suspended three students for 1.5 years, four students for a year, and six others for six months after they were found guilty of ragging the junior.

The action was taken after the institute received a complaint from the victim and subsequently informed the local police and alerted the University Grants Commission (UGC).

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Following this, UGC officials reportedly took the matter seriously and instructed AIIMS to take strict action. A team of senior officials from AIIMS Delhi visited the campus, confirmed that ragging had taken place, and based on their findings, the institute suspended the students involved.

Moreover, Dr Srimanta Kumar Dash, who is both the Dean (Academics) and the head of the anti-ragging committee, stepped down from his committee position after his son’s name surfaced during the investigation.

As per the South First media report, the incident took place on June 22 at the undergraduate boys’ hostel. According to institute officials, a group of senior students confronted a junior from Tirupati, accusing him of misbehaving with female students and sending offensive messages to them

Things turned serious when the first-year student was reportedly harassed, both physically and mentally, and after being unable to cope, he attempted self-harm by cutting his wrist. Fellow students immediately rushed him to the institute’s hospital on 23 June, and he was discharged within an hour after receiving treatment.

After getting discharged from the hospital, the first-year student filed a formal complaint via email to the institute. Based on the complaint, the anti-ragging committee launched an inquiry and found the 13 students guilty of ragging.

AIIMS Mangalagiri authorities have reiterated their zero-tolerance policy towards ragging and stated that further action may be taken as per the final inquiry recommendations.

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