Police in Gujarat’s Patan district have filed an FIR against 15 students from a medical college following the death of an 18-year-old student who was allegedly subjected to ragging by his seniors. The incident took place at the GMERS Medical College and Hospital in Dharpur on Saturday night, with the victim, Anil Methaniya, a first-year MBBS student, lost his life after reportedly being tortured by second-year students.
According to officials, the accused students made Methaniya and 10 other first-year students stand in a hostel room for more than three hours, during which they were allegedly forced to perform degrading acts, such as singing, dancing and uttering abusive words. During this time, the students were subjected to both mental and physical abuse, as outlined in the FIR.
Methaniya’s condition deteriorated as the ragging continued, and he fainted around midnight. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he was declared dead upon arrival.
An investigation by the college’s anti-ragging committee, led by Dean Dr Hardik Shah, revealed that 11 first-year students were targeted by the group of second-year students. The committee interviewed 26 students, including 15 second-year and 11 first-year students, to gather statements.
Inspector PJ Solanki of Balisana Police Station confirmed that all 15 accused would soon be arrested. The FIR lists the names of the suspended students: Avdhesh Ashok Patel, Hiren Mansukh Prajapati, Tushar Pira Gohelkar, Prakash Madha Desai, Jaimin Savji Chaudhary, Praveen Varjang Chaudhary, Vivek Gaman Rabari, Rutvik Purshottam Limbadiya, Mehul Pratap Dedhatar, Surjal Ruda Baldaniya, Haresh Gambhir Chavda, Vaibhavkumar Vikaskumar Raval, Parag Bharat Kalsariya, Utpal Sailesh Vasava and Vishal Lagdhir Chaudhary.
The 15 second-year students named in the FIR have been charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly and using obscene language. The college has suspended the accused from both hostel and academic activities pending further investigation.
The FIR was lodged at Balisana police station late on Sunday night, following a formal complaint by Dr Anil Bhathija, the college’s additional dean. The case has sparked outrage and calls for stricter action against the practice of ragging in educational institutions.
If you or someone you know is going through ragging and needs support, call an Anti-Ragging toll-free “helpline” at 1800-180-5522 to help victims of ragging, besides facilitating effective coordinated action by all concerned. You can also visit the Anti-Ragging Website i.e. www.antiragging.in.
