A second-year student at VIMSAR (Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research) in Burla has accused senior students of ragging. He claims they verbally abused and physically harassed him.
The issue came to light when the student told his mother, who then reported it directly to Professor Pradeep Kumar Mohanty, the Dean of VIMSAR, over a phone call. In response, the institute formed a committee to investigate the allegations. Professor Mohanty assured that necessary action will be taken based on the committee’s findings.
“The mother of a second-year student called us and complained that her son was physically harassed and verbally abused with offensive language by some senior students.
We immediately formed a committee to investigate the matter. The committee is currently verifying the truth behind the allegations. Necessary action will be taken based on their findings,” said Professor Pradeep Kumar Mohanty, Dean of VIMSAR.
The investigation is still ongoing, and while an oral complaint has been made, a formal written complaint is yet to be filed. So far, neither the victim nor the accused have responded.
VIMSAR has faced raging incidents in the past. In March 2021, the institute was in the news when 18 MBBS students were found guilty of ragging juniors. The anti-ragging committee investigated the case and fined them a total of Rs 54,000.
Similarly, in September 2019, a reported ragging case at VIMSAR was later found to be a fight between two student groups.
To prevent such incidents, VIMSAR has strict rules against ragging. Students found guilty can face suspension from classes, loss of scholarships, being barred from exams, or even expulsion. Fines for ragging can range from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The institute has also set up a reporting system for ragging complaints and has warned that even freshers who witness ragging but fail to report it may also face consequences.
