A government medical college in Kerala’s Manjeri town on Wednesday suspended 21 students for allegedly ragging their juniors, reported PTI. The college authorities have also formed a three-member committee to investigate into the allegations. The inquiry panel will submit a report to the college’s anti-ragging cell on Wednesday, according to ANI.
The actions were initiated a day after more than 40 first-year MBBS students lodged a joint complaint against their seniors. The first-year students alleged that they were stripped naked and compelled to clean toilets at the college hostel. They also said they were forced to drink contaminated water.
The incident comes three days after five students of a government college in Nattakom, Kerala, surrendered before the police. These students allegedly ragged their juniors so brutally that one of whom suffered kidney damage and had to undergo dialysis three times since the incident took place on December 2. Two more accused in the case are still at large. Elsewhere, another student from the Cochin University of Science and Technology attempted suicide after he was beaten up and allegedly subjected to mental torture by three of his seniors for hours on December 16.
Although ragging is banned in most educational institutions, India is yet to put in place a national anti-ragging law that defines what constitutes ragging and the punishment it entails. However, the Supreme Court had set out a few guidelines, asking college authorities to guard the place where new students are accommodated and ban the entry of seniors and outsiders after a specified hour, according to ANI.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!