'Harassment': KMC’s anti-ragging committee blames Dr Saif for Dr Preethi’s suicide
PG student of the Anaesthesia department took the extreme step because of her senior Dr. Saif's harassment.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 2 March 2023 5:03 AM GMT
Dr Preethi (file photo)
Hyderabad: Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) anti-ragging committee probing Dr. Preethi’s suicide has revealed that the PG student of the Anaesthesia department took the extreme step because of her senior Dr. Saif's harassment.
KMC principal Dr. Mohan Das said the committee would submit the report to University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Medical Commission (NMC) soon.
The committee members examined the attendance of Dr. Preethi since her joining on November 18. They also looked into her duty chart with Dr. Saif. It was found that issues over the pre-anesthesia report at the government maternity hospital led to differences of opinion between them.
Mocking
The remand report of Warangal police revealed that two incidents sparked tension between the two. Warangal Commissioner of Police A V Ranganath said during the preliminary investigation, they had examined 17 WhatsApp chats of Saif. He said they also checked the WhatsApp group `LDD+ knockouts' (30-member group).
In one incident, when Preethi filed a pre-anesthesia report on February 18, Saif circulated it on WhatsApp groups. She then sent him a personal message for insulting her. Preethi also warned Saif that she would complain to the HOD.
"Saif was having a boss-like attitude and that is why he was targeting Preethi. Though Dr. Preethi was a daring student, she was also sensitive," said Ranganath.
In the remand report, police said Saif took Preethi's warnings seriously and asked his friends to give her extra duties in the RICU without any rest. Dr. Saif used to mock Dr. Preethi saying that she had got the PG Medical seat under the reservation category.
After Preethi informed the harassment issue to the HOD of the anesthesia department, Dr. K Nagarjuna Reddy, the doctors counseled the duo on February 21. Later Dr. Preethi spoke to one of the senior medicos about it. "Though she was found to be normal before the suicide attempt, her browsing history indicates her intention," Ranganath said.
On February 22, Preethi attempted suicide by injecting herself with a heavy dose of suspected anesthesia in the MGM Hospital. She was found unconscious, and the hospital administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shifted her to NIMS, Hyderabad. She died at the NIMS, Hyderabad, on February 26, after battling for life for five days. https://newsmeter.in/hyderabad/dr-preeti-attempted-suicide-dies-nims-708680
A case has been booked on Dr. Saif, Section 306 read with 108, section 4(V) of Prohibition of Ragging Act, section (1)(r), 3 (2)(VA),3 (1)(w) (ii) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities), and he was sent to judicial remand.
The local court has sent Dr. Saif to four-day police custody. He will be questioned from Thursday.
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