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The tragic death of Anil Methaniya, an 18-year-old MBBS student from GMERS Medical College in Gujarat, has sparked outrage and concern over ragging practices in medical institutions. Anil, a first-year student, died allegedly due to the severe physical and mental distress caused by a ragging session conducted by senior students on Saturday night. During the incident, he was reportedly forced to stand for hours, which ultimately led to him collapsing and losing consciousness. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he was declared dead shortly after.
His family, devastated by the loss, has now voiced their anger, questioning what kind of doctors such seniors would become. Anil's cousin, Gaurav Methaniya, expressed his deep disappointment, stating that those responsible for the ragging should not be allowed to continue their medical education. "Medicine is a service sector. How can people with criminal minds serve the country? What kind of doctors will they become?" he questioned.
The ragging incident occurred during an "introduction" session, a euphemism often used for ragging activities in residential campuses. The police report indicates that Anil was made to stand for three hours, along with other first-year students, during which they were humiliated, forced to sing, dance, and use vulgar language. The ordeal left Anil unconscious, and he was taken to the hospital where he died.
The authorities have arrested 15 senior students involved in the ragging incident, who now face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with other related offenses. The college's anti-ragging committee investigated the incident, recording statements from 26 students. According to the investigation, the 15 seniors were responsible for ragging 11 freshers, including Anil.
Gaurav Methaniya shared that Anil was an exemplary student, one of the top performers in his village, and the first in the family to secure a seat in MBBS. His death has not only shattered the family but has also raised questions about the unchecked culture of ragging in educational institutions, especially in professional courses like medicine.
In response to the incident, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the higher education regulator, reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards ragging. The UGC has urged educational institutions to take strict actions against anyone found guilty of ragging or abetting it. Despite the ban, incidents of ragging continue to be reported, and the family now demands severe punishment for those responsible, including life imprisonment.