NAGPUR: That claims of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) dean Dr Abhimanyu Niswade that he had barred the two interns and a former
warden, accused of ragging a II MBBS student, from entering the college for three months were exposed as false when one of them was seen freely moving around in college premises. The dean also removed the warden who had tried to protect the ragging victim and was roughed up by the accused in the process.
One of the accused interns Gaurav Dandekar was seen playing volleyball with the inmates of Hostel 3 where he has been illegally residing until the incident. Sources in the college told TOI that Dandekar as well as Manish Jadhav were seen near the hostels on Wednesday afternoon. After sometime Jadhav disappeared but a brazen Dandekar was photographed by the TOI lensman during his volleyball game.
The college authorities apparently have also misled the public by declaring that the two interns were barred from entering the college for three months. Sources in the college said that the letter from Dr Niswade issued to Hostel 4 stated that they were barred for just one month, raising doubts about resolve of college authorities in strictly dealing with illegal activities. The acting dean had specifically told the media that the two interns were not only being barred for three months from college and hostel but would also lose their stipend. This, however, could not be confirmed as Dr Niswade did not return repeated calls from TOI. However, he had told the media that in case any of these accused was found in the campus, he would be suspended forever.
Meanwhile, the acting dean also Dr Umesh Naik (who is also Chief Medical Officer of GMCH) from his duty as warden without giving any reason. The accused interns had also roughed up Dr Naik along with junior students, eyewitnesses had reported. "I was physically pushed by these students," Dr Naik told TOI on Wednesday. The letter was handed over to Dr Naik on Wednesday, whereas it is dated January 30. The letter also has signature of Dr Arvind Kurhade, the chief hostel warden.
Dr Naik was replaced by Dr Manish Thakre as officiating officer lecturer in psychiatry department. The letter is also marked to Dr Vinod Rathod who has replaced Dr Naik as assistant warden. ''What does this show? You are punishing a warden who was protecting the students at the time of the incident when the dean did not even pick up his phone," said a shocked student.
Students are now also objecting to interns being termed as non-students by the college authorities to save them from being booked under the anti-ragging law. "When it comes to enjoying privileges, they are called students and when it comes to ragging, they are called outsiders. Why such dual standards," asked a senior MBBS student. A member of the state medical council also said that although interns were taking hands-on training, they were very much students as they do not got their MBBS degree before completion of internship.