MGM suicide exposes state’s ragging crisis again:Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University tops in national ragging list

Madhya Pradesh’s medical education system is under renewed scrutiny following the suicide of a first-year MBBS student at MGM Medical College, Indore, an incident that has once again brought ragging concerns in the state’s medical institutions to the forefront. The development gains added significance as Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU), Jabalpur, the affiliating body for government medical colleges, ranks highest in the country among medical universities in ragging complaints. Between 2022 and 2024, MPMSU recorded 75 complaints, the highest nationally in its category, according to the State of Ragging in India 2022–24 report by NGO Society Against Violence in Education (S.A.V.E.). In the overall university category across all streams, MPMSU also stands joint top nationally. Against this backdrop, the death of 25-year-old Antariksh Agrawal has intensified debate over campus culture and the effectiveness of anti-ragging enforcement in Madhya Pradesh. Family alleges sustained ragging Antariksh, a 2025 batch MBBS student from Gwalior district, was found hanging in his hostel room earlier this week. His family has alleged that continuous ragging and humiliation inside the hostel pushed him into severe mental distress. His father, Pankaj Agrawal, said the family had formally raised concerns. He further claimed that his son had informed the family about humiliating practices inside the hostel, including being forced to stand while eating in the mess if seniors were present and being subjected to degrading treatment. MGM Medical College denies ragging incident Responding to the claims, MGM Medical College Dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria said no formal complaint of ragging had been submitted before the incident and that the college has initiated a thorough probe. “No formal complaint regarding ragging was directly submitted to the college prior to this incident. We have constituted two separate inquiry committees to examine every possible factor including ragging, bullying, mental health and academic stress. We are cooperating fully with the police investigation,”. Emphasising the college’s anti-ragging framework, he added: Police investigations are ongoing. MPMSU’s national ranking raises broader concern The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the state’s national standing in ragging data. Medical colleges account for 38.6% of total ragging complaints nationwide despite medical students forming only 1.1% of the student population. Nearly 45.1% of ragging-related deaths between 2022 and 2024 were reported from medical colleges. MPMSU Registrar Pushpraj Singh Baghel said the university actively monitors complaints but clarified its functional limits and said 2henever a ragging complaint is reported, the university anti-ragging committee reviews it immediately. He added that the university monitors the process and ensures compliance with regulations, but the direct action is taken at the college level. A pattern that refuses to fade The MGM case is not isolated. Over the past two years, multiple ragging complaints have surfaced from medical colleges in Indore, Jabalpur, Ratlam and Rewa. In most cases, anti-ragging committees were formed, inquiries initiated and disciplinary actions, often temporary suspensions or hostel expulsions, were imposed. However, many cases concluded without public disclosure of final findings or broader systemic reform. Several complaints were reportedly withdrawn during inquiry proceedings, allegedly due to fear of seniors. At MGM Medical College alone: · December 2024: An anonymous social media post alleged severe hostel ragging and mental torture. · October 2025: A postgraduate student accused senior resident doctors of mental harassment. · November–December 2025: Juniors alleged assault, forced alcohol consumption and confinement at private flats. · February 2026: The suicide of a first-year MBBS student amid allegations of ragging. Repeated disciplinary measures including one-month suspensions and hostel expulsions were taken in certain cases. Yet recurring complaints suggest the issue persists. Incidents across the state The concern extends beyond Indore. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur June 2025 – Jabalpur: First-year MBBS student Shivansh Gupta died by suicide after allegedly jumping from his hostel at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College. His family claimed he was harassed by seniors over a new bike, but police later concluded the death was linked to an emotional issue involving a girl student and found no evidence of ragging. In February 2026, eight third-year MBBS students were suspended for six months and fined Rs 10,000 each for ragging a junior student. Dean Dr Navneet Saxena said the action was taken under National Medical Commission norms after the anti-ragging committee confirmed the allegations. Dr Laxmi Narayan Pandey Government Medical College, Ratlam Two second-year MBBS students were expelled from the hostel and debarred from academic activities after allegedly ragging juniors while intoxicated. Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa In February 2026, a ragging dispute escalated into violent clashes between senior and junior students inside the hostel and later at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital’s emergency ward, injuring multiple students. A system under question With MPMSU ranked highest nationally among medical universities in ragging complaints and repeated allegations emerging from institutions across Madhya Pradesh, the issue is increasingly being viewed as systemic rather than incidental. While authorities reiterate zero tolerance, families and students continue to raise concerns over enforcement, transparency and accountability. As investigations into Antariksh Agrawal’s death continue, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on whether stronger preventive and structural reforms are needed to curb ragging in the state’s medical colleges.