Medical College Takes Strict Action After Ragging Incident
In a strong move against ragging, the management of Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital in Nerchowk, Mandi district, has expelled three MBBS students from their hostel and suspended them from academic activities. The action follows a confirmed incident of assault and ragging involving senior and junior students.
Details of the Incident and Punishments
The college administration took decisive steps based on the recommendations of a fact-finding committee. Two third-year students, Harsh from Rajasthan and Prashant Kumar from Delhi, faced severe penalties. They have been expelled from the hostel for a full year, barred from attending classes for three months, and fined Rs 20,000 each.
Interestingly, the junior student who brought the complaint, second-year MBBS student Shubham, also faced disciplinary action. He was expelled from the hostel for six months and fined Rs 10,000. The college principal, Dr. D.K. Verma, stated this was due to Shubham's "dubious role in the case".
Investigation Reveals Complex Truth
The case came to light when Shubham alleged that his two seniors entered his hostel room at 6 pm on December 18 and assaulted him. The college management promptly formed a committee to investigate and also registered a police case at the Balh police station.
However, the probe uncovered a more complicated scenario. According to sources, the investigation revealed that the junior student allegedly provoked the accused over an issue and then made ragging allegations to avoid the consequences. Dr. Verma confirmed that during the inquiry, Shubham accepted substance abuse and having malafide intentions.
The accused students admitted during the Anti-Ragging Committee meeting held on Monday that they entered the junior's room and assaulted him. An earlier meeting scheduled for December 30 could not proceed due to a lack of quorum.
Zero-Tolerance Stance on Ragging
Principal Dr. D.K. Verma emphasized the college's strict approach. "Action was taken against the junior student also, as the investigation revealed his role too in the case. We dealt strictly with this matter and got a police case also registered," he told TOI. This case highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities institutions face in completely eradicating the menace of ragging from campuses, while also ensuring fair investigations.
The college's anti-ragging committee played a pivotal role in examining the facts and recommending the punishments, demonstrating a functional system to address such serious complaints.
