Ragging Scandal: MBBS Interns Attacked, Threatened Over Instagram Post in Gujarat

A shocking incident of ragging was reported at the Government Medical College at Bhavnagar in Gujarat. Six MBBS doctors allegedly kidnapped and thrashed three other interns, apparently provoked by an Instagram post by one of the victims.

Incident details

The matter was brought up on an Instagram handle called 'Convocation Speaks, ' which was supposed to be a sarcastic post. The accused doctors were angered by the posts and targeted the interns, allegedly in revenge.

In the late evening of March 6, a victim was summoned by one of the accused doctors and told to meet them. On arrival, he was pushed into a car, where there was a driver and another doctor.

While being taken to Jewel Circle, one of the accused started beating the two victims in the car. They were then taken to an alley outside a hotel, where the rest of the accused were waiting. The group allegedly physically attacked the victims, defamed them, and accused them of disgracing the college. The complainant was then forced to unlock her phone, and the accused downloaded photos from her gallery, threatening to post them online.

The victims were then taken to another doctor's hostel room, where they were allegedly made to assume the humiliating 'cock position' – where a man sits on his elbows with his arms under his knees. Further, a complaint was filed by a hostel resident doctor, accusing the two of entering his room around 2 am when he was asleep and continuing to assault him.

Prompt action was initiated.

The three victims were taken to Sir T Hospital before a complaint was lodged with the dean of the medical college. They then approached the police to lodge a case.

In response, the college's anti-ragging committee held an emergency meeting and suspended four of the six accused. The committee also withheld their internship certificates.

Legal action

Bhavnagar-based Neelum Bagh police filed two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) at night on Saturday, prosecuting the six accused persons on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, harm, intimidation, and using foul language.