Medical student who accused classmates of casteist slurs says cops dragging feet

The complainant is a student of GS Medical College attached to KEM Hospital

Four days after they registered an FIR over the alleged ragging of a student of GS Medical College, attached to KEM Hospital, the police are yet to make any arrests. The complainant has alleged that the Bhoiwada cops are going slow in the case, while the police say arrests will be made only if they find it necessary. Sixteen people have been named in the FIR.

"Since the FIR was registered and my detailed statement has been taken, no accused has even been called for an inquiry," said the student. "Cops are dragging their feet, they took a month to register the offence and now the investigation is moving at a snail's pace." The 24-year-old student has demanded immediate arrest of the accused saying they may hamper the investigation or influence eyewitnesses.

A resident of Hingoli district in Maharashtra, the complainant is a third-year student of Occupational Therapy. Last month, he alleged that he was being physically and mentally harassed since December 2018 by his roommates and classmates over his caste. The complainant said he belongs to a backward community and had to face casteist slurs. He alleged that the torture was so severe that he left the hostel and went home in 2019 that cost him one education year.

The student said he mailed a complaint to the college dean and the hostel warden after the first episode of torture but no action was taken. He said though an anti-ragging committee was formed, his complaints were never acknowledged. Based on his complaint to the Bhoiwada police in December 2021, the cops booked 16 people, including students and the hostel warden, under the IPC and the Maharashtra Anti-Ragging Act, 1999, and SC-ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989.

A police officer, who did not wish to come on record, told mid-day, "We have recorded the statements of a few eyewitnesses. There are many instances that need to be corroborated and it will take time to find out whether the alleged incidents took place." Vijay Patil, DCP (Zone 4), said, "The FIR was registered a few days ago after initial panchnama and statements of the victim. The accused will be called for questioning. The case is sensitive as it involves ragging as well as caste atrocity. Making comments over the investigation and output will be premature."

Protest on Tuesday

Backing the complainant, the Jati Ant Sangharsh Samiti said it would protest at KEM Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. "We are demanding immediate suspension of officials who have been named as accused. Also we want cops to name the hospital dean and academic dean as accused in the FIR," Subodh More from the Samiti.