Surat: A day after four resident doctors of Government Medical College (GMC), Surat, were suspended, Khatodara police registered an FIR on a complaint filed by the college authorities in connection with the suicide of first-year PG microbiology student Dr Harsh Pandya.Police invoked BNS Sections 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 352 (intentional insult intended to provoke breach of peace) and 54 (abetment) against four second-year PG students — Dr Dikshita Gevariya, Dr Niral Vasave, Dr Anuj Maheshwari and Dr Hina Bhut.The FIR states that the four allegedly confined Dr Pandya and nine other first-year microbiology students and subjected them to ragging.The complaint was filed by Girish Patel, administrative officer at GMC, Surat.According to the FIR, all 10 first-year microbiology students were called to the serology lab on the evening of August 5. Dr Gevariya allegedly instructed them, including Dr Pandya, to remain present in the lab. After they reached the lab, Dr Gevariya and the three other accused allegedly abused and harassed the students for nearly two hours, subjecting them to mental harassment and humiliation.Following Pandya’s death on Sunday, the college’s anti-ragging squad, headed by Dr Chandresh Tailor, conducted a probe and submitted its report to the anti-ragging committee. The committee found the four students guilty and recommended their suspension for six months.The college investigation also found that the accused students had issued instructions to their juniors despite having no authority to do so. Under the rules, only faculty members are authorised to teach students or assign them practical work. However, the four accused allegedly issued instructions to all 10 first-year students, including Pandya.Following Pandya’s death, the other nine first-year microbiology students gave statements to the college, alleging that they had been insulted and abused by the seniors over the preceding several days. They also alleged that the seniors had made false complaints to faculty members accusing the juniors of not doing their work.Action against faculty members likelyGMC dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt has sent the required reports to the health and education departments. Sources said four faculty members, including microbiology department head Dr Sumaiya Mulla, have submitted their replies to the show-cause notices issued to them. Their responses have also been forwarded to the government.Sources said the government is likely to initiate action against the faculty members, who allegedly failed to take timely action despite the issues involving the junior students.
