RIMS ragging controversy resolved

Link to report

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sept 4: The recent controversy over ragging of fresher medical students of Regional Institute Medical Sciences by their seniors has finally been settled this afternoon following an MOU signed between the representatives of RIMS Students Union and RIMS authorities.

During the meeting, the RIMS students have given a solemn undertaking that there will be no more ragging in the RIMS in future.

In the meantime, about 200 medical students thronged at the campus of the RIMS directorate today after the RIMS authorities attempted to fix responsibility for the ragging upon the six senior medical students who were picked on the night of August 25 by the police on the charge of involvement in ragging the freshers.

It may be mentioned that around midnight of August 25, several fresher students were made to walk around the RIMS campus in their underwear. Police, responding to complaints from onlookers, picked up some senior medical students.

Later, around 12.15 pm an emergency joint meeting attended by the RIMS director, representatives of RIMS Students Union and senior lecturers of RIMS was held and it was finally decided to levy a punitive fine of Rs.5000 upon the student union for its failure to produced the main culprits who were directly involved in the ragging incident.

According to L. Iboyaima, Public Relation Officer, RIMS directorate, the RIMS authorities are very much concerned over the reports of ragging by the senior medical students and the matter has became serious due to the multiple complaints and continuous public criticism over the recent incident.

He said the RIMS authorities soon after the incident directed the representatives of the RIMS Students Union to produce the involved senior students in the incident, but no action was taken immediately due to the inability of the union to produce the students involved

The RIMS authorities decided to fix the responsibilities upon the six students who were picked up by the Lamphel police and released on the midnight of August 25.

On the other hand the entire body of medical students of the teaching hospital gathered at the RIMS directorate today and submitted a memorandum to the RIMS director, claiming that the six students were innocent.

The PRO further said considering the plea of the students, the RIMS authority this afternoon finally decided to levy a punitive fine of Rs.5000 upon the RIMS Students Union and exact a commitment from the union not to repeat ragging in the college. With the signing of the understanding, the gathered medical students finally dispersed themselves around 1.45pm and resumed the normal classes.