First-year medical student commits suicide:Family claims 3 months of ragging, bullying and harassment; police seize mobiles and begin investigation

Questions have arisen over ragging following the death of first-year MBBS student Antariks Agrawal at MGM Medical College. The student’s family has blamed senior students’ harassment for his death, while the college administration said no concrete evidence of ragging has been found. The police have begun investigating the case. Antariks Agrawal, a resident of Gwalior, was found hanging in his hostel room on the night of 2 February. According to his father, Pankaj Agrawal, Antariks had been troubled ever since joining the medical college. He had been facing ragging and bullying for three months. The family said Antariks had reported that senior students harassed him and made fun of him. Out of fear, he did not disclose any names. He came home twice, cried both times The family said the behaviour of senior students in the hostel was humiliating. First-year students were forced to eat standing in the mess in the presence of senior students. They were not allowed to sit on chairs or use tables. During the day, they were not allowed to change uniforms, and at night they could not close their room doors while sleeping. According to the family, Antariks came home twice and cried both times. Once, he even called from the hostel to complain about the harassment. Bought new mobile on January 31 The family said Antariks had bought a new mobile on 31 January and hosted a party for friends on 1 February. On the morning of 2 February, he asked his father to send Rs 2,000 online for mess fees, and his voice sounded normal. Soon after, the tragic incident occurred. College administration formed two investigation committees Dean of MGM Medical College, Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, said two committees, including an anti-ragging committee, have been set up to investigate the matter. He added that no written complaints about ragging exist in college records, but all aspects are being thoroughly examined. Two mobiles seized, call records and messages being investigated ACP Tushar Singh said the police and FSL team inspected the site. The student’s two mobile phones have been seized, and call records, messages, and social media activity are being examined. No suicide note has been found so far. Post-mortem and forensic reports are awaited. Ragging complaints have surfaced before too Previously, complaints of ragging at MGM Medical College had also come to light. In December 2024, a social media account ‘Please Help Me’ raised the issue of hostel ragging. In another complaint sent to the UGC, allegations of late-night ragging were made.