Hyderabad: Twelve final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students of the Government Dental College (GDC) in Hyderabad have been suspended for six months following allegations of ragging first-year students in the college hostel.
The action was taken pending the outcome of a police investigation into the matter, college authorities said on Wednesday.
Government Dental College Principal Sarjeev Singh Yadav told reporters that first-year students initially informed the institution’s anti-ragging committee orally on June 9 and later submitted a written complaint on June 11.
According to the complaint, the senior students allegedly forced freshers to perform personal errands, including arranging alcohol, cigarettes, and food for them.
The first-year students further alleged that they were subjected to physical and verbal harassment. They claimed they were made to perform chair sit-ups, push-ups, and were abused by the seniors.
Following the complaint, the college administration initiated an inquiry and decided to suspend the 12 accused students for six months as a precautionary measure while investigations continue.
Authorities have also informed the police, and a formal inquiry is underway to determine the extent of the alleged ragging and identify those responsible.
The incident has once again raised concerns over ragging practices in educational institutions despite strict anti-ragging regulations across the country.
