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Hyderabad: A spate of ragging incidents in Telangana’s medical colleges has brought the issue of student safety and mental health into sharp focus. Despite stringent laws and institutional measures, the culture of ragging persists, leaving many victims scarred for life.
Recent Cases Highlight Severity
1. Nagarkurnool District Incident: On March 25, a first-year MBBS student at a government medical college was subjected to severe physical and emotional abuse by three seniors in a hostel room. The student was forced to perform humiliating punishments like holding a 5 kg LPG cylinder and enduring beatings with a belt after refusing to share his UPI PIN. The seniors also accessed his private phone data, blackmailed him, and publicly humiliated him using his photos and videos. Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against the accused under the Telangana Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1997, and disciplinary actions are underway.
2. Warangal’s Kakatiya Medical College: In September 2023, seven third-year students were suspended for three months after verbally abusing and thrashing a second-year junior who refused to fetch water for them. The anti-ragging committee confirmed the allegations through CCTV evidence. The students were also expelled from the hostel for a year.
3. Hyderabad’s Gandhi Medical College: Over the past few months, multiple incidents have been reported at GMC. In one case, 10 students were suspended for summoning freshers to their hostel room at 2 AM to intimidate them while allegedly under the influence of alcohol[8]. Another incident led to the suspension of a senior who demanded juniors address him as “sir” and show undue respect.
Government Response
The Telangana government has issued strict directives to curb ragging in medical colleges. Measures include:
– Mandating professors to monitor WhatsApp groups within departments to prevent harassment.
– Issuing warnings that even minor complaints will lead to rustication and criminal charges.
– Stressing that ragging in any form will not be tolerated.
Broader Implications
These incidents underscore the urgent need for cultural change within educational institutions. While laws like the Prohibition of Ragging Act exist, enforcement remains inconsistent. The normalization of ragging as a “rite of passage” perpetuates harmful practices that can lead to mental health issues or even tragic outcomes, as seen in past cases like Dr. Dharawath Preethi’s alleged suicide due to harassment.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on reported incidents from credible sources and aims to highlight ongoing issues in Telangana’s medical colleges regarding ragging. It does not intend to generalize or implicate all students or institutions involved.
Citations:
[1] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/ragging-telangana-medical-colleges-monitoring-whatsapp-8952680/
