BBMCH Odisha MBBS Student Suicide: Human Rights commission seeks report from Odisha Chief Secy, VC

Kendrapara: The alleged suicide of a 1st-year MBBS student of Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital (BBMCH) has come under the scanner of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Odisha Chief Secretary and Sambalpur University Vice-Chancellor.

The MBBS student, a native of Harayana, committed suicide by jumping from the roof of the building in the hostel of Bolangir -based Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital (BBMCH) on April 22 last.

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The NHRC passed the order following a petition filed by Human Rights activist Akhanda.

In his petition, he alleged that Nishant had fallen to death from the hostel roof on April 22 last and it was mentioned in the complaint that the chat of the victim with the fellow students had revealed that he was subjected to ragging by the seniors.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported on this matter that the deceased student was being admitted to the Bhima Bhoi MCH two months earlier and was residing at the New Boys Hostel.

The incident took place when he went to the hostel terrace after having lunch and sometime later, hostel inmates got to know that he had fallen off the roof and sustained critical injuries. He was then rushed to the hospital by the inmates, where doctors declared him brought dead.

However, speaking to media persons the medical college dean Sabita Mohapatra said: "We have formed a 10-member anti-ragging committee in the medical college. Every day a group of faculty visits the boys and girls hostel for monitoring the situation in hostel rooms of first-year students. I have never heard about ragging in the hostel." Police have started an investigation into the incident and searched the deceased student's room to ascertain any clue to his death.

Further, the police informed that they are investigating the exact cause of death.

The family of the victim alleged that ragging could be the reason behind his decision to take such an extreme step as he was psychologically tormented by the seniors

An FIR received from the father of the victim has been registered under section 306,34 IPC by the police.

The right activist said this was the second such case of death of a medical student of the same college and sought the intervention of the Commission in the matter, Akhanda demanded the arrest of the culprits and officials responsible for Nisant's death and compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the next of kin of the victim.

The Commission directed the State Chief Secretary and Vice-Chancellor of Sambalpur university to submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks failing which the commission will be constrained to invoke coercive process under section 13 of the protection of Human Rights Act 1993.

It would also call for the personal appearance of the authority concerned with the submission of the report, the commission stated in its order.

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