Patan (Gujarat): An 18-year-old MBBS student tragically lost his life after allegedly being subjected to ragging by seniors at the GMERS Medical College and Hospital hostel in Gujarat’s Patan district. Police have registered an FIR against 15 second-year students, accusing them of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other offences, officials said on Monday.  

MBBS Student Dies After Ragging Incident in Gujarat

The victim, Anil Methaniya, a first-year MBBS student, was reportedly forced to stand for over three hours in a hostel room on Saturday night. According to the FIR lodged at Balisana police station, the accused subjected him and 10 other juniors to ‘mental and physical torture,’ forcing them to sing, dance, and utter abusive words. Methaniya fainted during the ordeal and was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead by doctors.  

Following the incident, the college’s anti-ragging committee, chaired by Dr. Hardik Shah, took statements from 26 students, including the 11 first-year victims and 15 accused seniors. The investigation confirmed that the accused had called the juniors for an ‘introduction’ and confined them in a hostel room for hours, a college official informed. 

College Suspends Students

The college administration has taken strict action, suspending the accused students from their hostel and academic activities pending further investigation. The FIR, filed by Dr. Anil Bhathija, the additional dean, cited sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly, and using obscene words.  

College officials revealed that Methaniya’s health deteriorated due to the extended standing and alleged torture during the ragging. Despite being rushed to medical care, his life could not be saved.  

Dr. Shah expressed shock over the incident, emphasizing the college’s zero-tolerance policy towards ragging. The administration has pledged full cooperation with the police to ensure justice for the victim.