GMCH expels 3 MBBS students for ragging, assaulting juniors

Guwahati: Three MBBS students at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) were expelled over the past two days for allegedly ragging, harassing and assaulting junior and fellow students, officials said on Saturday.One of the students was also accused of harassing a female batchmate despite having earlier received a police warning.GMCH sources said the action followed complaints filed by victims with the National Medical Commission, which then directed the college to take necessary steps.According to office orders issued by GMC principal and chief superintendent Prof. (Dr) AC Baishya, based on recommendations of the Anti-Ragging Task Force and the minutes of a March 11 meeting, a Phase II MBBS student staying in Hostel No.

4 was expelled from the college for six months and permanently barred from the hostel with immediate effect. He was accused of physically assaulting juniors in the hostel on Feb 14.A Phase III, Part I MBBS student from the same hostel was expelled from the college for three months and permanently removed from the hostel with immediate effect. The order said he was found involved in ragging juniors on the same day last month.

The third student, enrolled in Phase III, Part II MBBS, was punished for allegedly continuously harassing a female batchmate and repeating the misconduct despite receiving a warning earlier from the police. Under the order, he was expelled from classes for six months and barred from the hostel for the remainder of his time at GMCH.He too was a resident of Hostel No. 4, where officials said ragging had become a serious concern.

The female student was from outside Assam, officials said."All the 3 expelled students and most of the victims are from Assam," said a GMCH official.Sources in the college said that after receiving a warning from the NMC, the anti-ragging committee carried out a detailed inspection of both boys’ and girls’ hostels.“Action was taken against the 3 students after the authorities got evidence against them,” said a GMCH official, adding that some of the victim students had earlier filed a written complaint with the NMC.Sources said several junior students had been subjected to ragging over a period of time.