Indore (Madhya Pradesh): There was chaos in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College on Wednesday after a complaint of ragging of MBBS 2024 students in the boys’ hostel surfaced.
A complaint was also lodged with the anti-ragging cell of UGC who shared it with the dean of MGM Medical College.
The incident came to light when photos purportedly showing ragging were widely circulated on social media and there were multiple social media posts about the brutal ragging, torture, and physical assault by the seniors in the boys’ hostel.
The widely circulated social media posts prompted the district administration to send a probe panel led by SDM Nidhi Verma to investigate the case. The anti-ragging committee of the college summoned 54 students of 2024 batch, out of 59 residing in the hostel (Five were not in the hostel). The college administration denied any wrongdoing as they didn’t receive any complaints from any of the students.
Meanwhile, the probe panel, constituted by the district administration focused on the points related to the facilities in the hostel, security checks, entry and exit points, and others.
The probe panel also visited the hostel’s campus and found a lack of security and CCTV surveillance. “The committee members asked for CCTV footage from September 15 and also went to the spot where the ragging allegedly took place. Officials also tried to talk to students, who were absent and asked the college administration to share their contact details,” sources said.
The investigation into the matter continued till late evening on Wednesday while the warden received multiple calls from parents of students residing in the hostel to complain about the ragging.
Series of tweets raised alarm
A series of alarming social media posts by an anonymous account claiming to be a student of MGM Medical College's 2024 batch has brought fresh allegations of ragging to light. The posts, which began on November 21, describe severe physical and mental harassment by seniors under the influence of alcohol.
The anonymous user alleged that seniors force juniors to stay on the hostel roof overnight, beating and harassing them under influence of liquor. The user said often they could only sleep for two hours at night due to the ragging. One post read, “Even my parents have never beaten me so much.”
Timeline of Posts
* November 21: The first post, addressed to the Chief Minister and collector, highlighted the abuse.
* Five Days Ago: A post claimed, "I am from a normal family, forced to stay in a government hostel but is like hell."
* Four Days Ago: "A dying man will do anything. I am on the verge of death as mentally and physically tortured by the seniors.”
* Three Days Ago: "I am close to death. What will happen to my family?"
* Two Days Ago: The hostel was referred as ‘Ravana's Lanka MGM Boys Hostel.’
Probe panel had to wait for 35 minutes at the hostel
The probe panel investigating the ragging allegations was kept waiting for 35 minutes at the hostel premises. SDM Nidhi Verma, expressing displeasure, confronted dean-in-charge Dr Nilesh Dalal, who cited a meeting as the reason for the delay.
Dogs and Day Scholars are not allowed
Amid the poor conditions, a board was also placed by the hostel students mentioning “Dogs and Day Scholars are Not Allowed”.
The anti-ragging committee is investigating the matter.
"We called the hostel warden, committee members, and students from the batch, but they denied any incident. The matter is under investigation.”
--Dr Nilesh Dalal, Dean in-charge
"We have spoken to students, the dean, and the hostel warden. CCTV cameras are limited to the gate, and only one security guard is stationed there. Numbers have been shared for further contact. The investigation is ongoing,”
--Shivshankar Dhaneria, Tehsildar