GORAKHPUR: The Baba Raghav Das Medical College administration on Thursday suspended 18 senior MBBS students for a month following allegations of severe ragging against juniors.
The students have been suspended from all campus, classroom, and hostel facilities for a period of one month, along with a fine of Rs 25,000 imposed on each student.
The Principal and Dean of the medical college confirmed that the administration acted swiftly after receiving a second, stern directive from the NMC on Wednesday requiring immediate action and a follow-up report.
"We took swift action... the entire committee decided to expel them from the hostel, classrooms, and campus for one month, and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 per student," the Principal stated to ANI. The college continues to monitor the situation to ensure a safe environment for all students on campus.
The investigation stems from a formal complaint lodged via email with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). Junior students residing in the college's Rajendra Hostel reported being subjected to mental harassment and verbal abuse between the nights of May 12 and May 14, intimidation and threats, including being forced to stand for hours by senior students and indecent behaviour and the use of derogatory language.
Following directions from the NMC on May 23, the college's Anti-Ragging Squad and Anti-Ragging Committee launched an immediate inquiry. Following emergency meetings held on May 26 and 27, the accused were summoned for interrogation.
Based on the findings, the committee unanimously decided on a one-month suspension, complete expulsion from the campus, classrooms, and hostel facilities, a fine of Rs 25,000 imposed on each of the 18 students and formal warning notices have been issued to two female resident students involved in the case.
Officials said the accused students belong to the 2022, 2023 and 2024 MBBS batches, with 10 students from the 2024 batch alone.
(With agency input)