An 18-year-old first-year student at GMERS Medical College and Hospital in Dharpur, Patan, died after allegedly being subjected to a ragging incident by senior students. The deceased, identified as Anil Methania, was reportedly forced to stand for three hours during an “introduction” session conducted by third-year students at the hostel.
“Introduction” or “intro” is a term commonly associated with ragging on residential campuses, where senior students harass newcomers under the guise of getting acquainted. According to reports, Anil collapsed and lost consciousness after the prolonged standing session. He was rushed to the hospital, where he recorded a statement with the police, confirming that he was forced to stand for hours. Tragically, he passed away soon after.
An autopsy has been conducted, and the report is expected to shed light on the exact cause of death.
Speaking about the incident, Anil’s cousin Dharmendra revealed that the family resides in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, over 150 km from the college. “We received a call from the college yesterday informing us that Anil had collapsed and was hospitalized. When we arrived, we learned that he had been ragged by third-year students. We demand justice,” he said.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for strict action against ragging in educational institutions.