Telangana Medical Student’s Death: AIDSO demands 'impartial' investigation into alleged suicide

NEW DELHI: Medical colleges in the state today held condolence meetings and demanded “impartial” investigation into the alleged suicide of the first-year postgraduate (PG) medical student of Kakatiya Medical College (KMC). The All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) also condemned the unfortunate incident.

Dharawath Preeti, a first year PG student, attempted suicide after she was reportedly harassed by her senior. The student who was undergoing treatment at the state-run Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) was declared dead five days after the incident.

AIDSO informed that Bangalore Medical College (BMC), ESI, and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Bowring) Medical Colleges held condolence meetings and put forward a list of demands.

Kalyan Kumar V, district secretary, said that a thorough and impartial inquiry into the death of Preeti must be immediately done. The group also asked the government to take “strict action against ragging and domineering tendencies in college”.

It further said the college management and the government “must own up the responsibility” for Preeti's death.

The list of demands also included immediate formation of student committees and strengthening of educational institutions. “Peaceful and democratic academic environments must be preserved in medical hostels and college campuses,” AIDSO said.

Meanwhile, the Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the woman. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and state health minister Harish Rao among other leaders expressed their condolences.

The Warangal police arrested the accused on the charges of abetment to suicide and sections related to ragging and those under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as per reports.