Ragging allegations at North Bengal Medical College, FIR registered

Siliguri: Ragging allegations have surfaced at the North Bengal Medical College (NBMC), Siliguri in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district in which a first-year female paramedical student has accused a second-year senior of publicly insulting her, verbally abusing her, and making threats.

The student, enrolled in the Diploma in Physiotherapy (DPT) program under the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) department initially approached the Anti-ragging committee of the college. Later, committee members advised her to file a complaint at the police station regarding the matter.

According to the complainant, the ragging began when she refused to participate in the college fest. She alleged that the accused senior persistently messaged her on social media and later insulted her publicly.

Also read- 11 MBBS students of Kozhikode Medical College suspended for allegedly ragging juniors

The situation reportedly escalated on January 31, when the accused allegedly used abusive language and threatened her in front of fellow students. The accused student is reported to be studying in the same department as the first year.

Feeling unsafe and intolerable, the student approached the anti-ragging committee with complaints of ragging against the senior. Based on her complaint, the committee took her statements and held a meeting on Thursday. However, the accused was absent as he was on leave.

Following discussions, the committee suggested that the complainant take the matter to the police. Later that night, she filed a written complaint at the NBMC outpost and an FIR was registered accordingly. Meanwhile, an internal inquiry has been launched in this regard.

It is to be noted that North Bengal Medical College is the one that previously faced severe criticism from the public and students following allegations of 'Threat Culture'.

Medical Dialogues reported in October 2024, that when the entire state was boiling over the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, NBMCH came into the limelight after 16 departmental heads (HODs) there accused the principal of NBMCH, Indrajit Saha, of corruption. These 16 HODs then forwarded a letter to the state director of medical education requesting the latter to take immediate action against Saha.

As per the letter, following deputations submitted by the students and junior doctors of NBMCH last month on the irregularities there, an enquiry committee was constituted. Following the unanimous decisions taken by the college council a battery of stern administrative interventions came out in phases, including the suspension of a few students, and junior doctors along with the removal of the dean and assistant dean and lodging of an FIR against the accused. Seven medical students were suspended after being accused of running a 'threat culture' within the college campus. Later, the Calcutta High Court granted relief to the students and stayed their suspension.

Acknowledging the ragging complaint, Dr. Partha Pratim Paan, head of the PMR department told Millennium Post, "After the incident, the student had filed a complaint to me. Immediately, I talked to both of them. There the senior apologised to her. However, later, the issue was raised before the Anti-Ragging Committee which held a meeting on Thursday. However, the accused was absent at the meeting. An internal inquiry is on."

Since the medical college anti-raging committee is conducting an investigation into the matter, they are expected to take necessary action following the findings of the probe.

Medical Dialogues recently reported an instance of ragging where 11 second-year MBBS students of Government Medical College, Kozhikode were suspended after being found guilty of ragging their juniors.

Also read- UGC slaps show cause notice on 18 medical colleges over non-compliance to anti-ragging regulations