Ahmedabad: In an alleged incident of ragging by seniors in a college hostel, a medical college student in Gujarat’s Patan district died on Saturday night. The deceased, 18-year-old student, Anil Natwarbhai Methaniya of GMERS Medical College, was allegedly made to stand for three hours by the seniors, The Indian Express reported.
When the college authorities informed that the incident was being investigated, police said that they had sought a report from the anti-ragging committee of the educational institution.
Anil, who hails from the Jesda village in Surendranagar district of Gujarat, was a first-year student at the GMERS Medical College and Hospital in Dharpur, Patan.
Reporters were told by Anil’s cousin Dharmendraa Methaniya that he received a call from his uncle about Anil falling unconscious, and when the family reached the college, they came to know that Anilwass dead, and his body was sent for postmortem. They also learned that first-year students were ragged by third-year students, and Anil was made to stand for 2-3 hours. Dharmendra said that they demand a fair investigation into his cousin’s death.
Anil’s batchmates, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Indian Express that he was among ten students who were ragged on Saturday night. Based on the regions they were in, they were asked to gather at designated hostel blocks around 9 pm, and this was communicated through WhatsApp student groups. The seniors asked the first years to give an introduction after standing for more than three hours, they said.
According to college Dean Dr Hardik Shah, some students took Anil to Dharpur Hospital’s emergency department after he fell unconscious, but he was declared dead later.
He continued that the anti-ragging committee in the institution has started an investigation and has informed the police, too. It will take strict action against those who were involved if they are found guilty of ragging, he said.
Police informed that an accidental death report had been registered at the Balisana police station.