Disturbing case of ragging and assault at People's Medical College
A case of brutal ragging, physical assault, and death threats has emerged at People's Medical College in Bhopal. A third-year MBBS student, whose identity is being protected, has filed a formal complaint against senior students for allegedly luring him into a trap, subjecting him to severe physical assault, and threatening to kill him. The incident occurred on June 30, and an investigation has been launched by the Nishatpura Police.
According to the victim's complaint, he was called to the college's Nescafe point around 5:30 PM by senior student Saurabh Raghuvanshi under false pretenses. Upon arrival, the victim was accused of sending inappropriate messages to the family of another student, Paras Jain. When the victim denied the allegations, Paras allegedly began verbally abusing him and later physically assaulted him. The assault escalated when Paras's friends — Chinmay Upadhyay, Abhishek Srivastava, and Naman Thakur — joined in, slapping, punching, and kicking the victim in full view of other students.
The assault took place in the presence of several witnesses, including senior student Jai Yadav, but no one intervened immediately. The attackers only fled when other students approached. Before leaving, Paras allegedly issued a death threat to the victim, saying, "You got saved today, but next time I will kill you if you message my family."
Nishatpura Police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of assault and criminal intimidation. The police have begun questioning witnesses and are expected to summon the accused students soon. However, the college administration has yet to release an official statement, raising concerns about its accountability in preventing ragging and ensuring student safety.
The incident has sparked outrage among student groups and activists, with many calling for stricter anti-ragging measures and better security in medical colleges. Critics point out that such violent bullying often goes unreported due to fear of retaliation, making it crucial for authorities to take immediate action to prevent further harassment and provide justice for the victim.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has reinforced its zero-tolerance policy against all forms of ragging — be it physical, verbal, or psychological. According to IMA guidelines, institutions must form and regularly monitor anti-ragging committees, display anti-ragging posters, and conduct compulsory orientation programs.
The guidelines also stipulate severe penalties, including suspension, expulsion, and criminal charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for offenses such as obscenity, causing grievous hurt, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation. Institutions are also mandated to report incidents, protect whistleblowers, provide victim counseling, and ensure a ragging-free environment through annual affidavits and the establishment of 24/7 helplines for immediate grievance redressal.
As the investigation continues, both the college and law enforcement agencies are under increasing pressure to respond swiftly to this serious case and ensure that no further incidents of this nature occur.
