Three second-year postgraduate students from Pune’s BJ Medical College (BJMC) have been suspended and expelled from their hostel following allegations of ragging against four junior doctors, college authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The action comes after a formal complaint was filed with the college on Monday.Dr. Eknath Pawar, Dean of BJMC, stated that the college took immediate action upon receiving the complaint against the three students from the Orthopaedic Department, which is affiliated with Sassoon General Hospital.
“The parents of the students initially approached Mantralaya (state secretariat) in Mumbai. On Monday, the college authorities received the complaint and subsequently formed a committee to investigate the matter. Based on the findings, the three PG students were suspended and removed from their hostel,” said Pawar. He added that a probe is currently underway.Sources within the college indicated that the accused targeted four junior medical students from their department, subjecting them to mental and occasional physical harassment, which included the use of intimidating language.
Concerns Over Campus Safety
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of ragging cases reported at BJMC over the past year, raising significant concerns about the institution’s ability to manage such issues effectively. In April of the previous year, two first-year postgraduate female resident doctors from the Radiology and Anesthesiology departments filed separate complaints alleging harassment by senior doctors. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) took suo motu cognizance of these incidents and instructed the college to submit a report.
However, the college’s internal inquiry concluded that no ragging had occurred, attributing the incidents to “minor disagreements.”Additionally, in December 2023, a New Year’s Eve incident at the male residents’ hostel involving a liquor party resulted in chaos, with reports of doctors breaking a glass door of the female residents’ hostel. Two female residents filed complaints, escalating the matter to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the college administration faced criticism for its inadequate response.
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