[IE] GMCH suicide case: Police interrogate senior students

Link to report

Chandigarh, August 29: A team of police officers today arrived at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector-32 from Amritsar to investigate the alleged suicide of a student Manjot Singh. The officers recorded statements of 19 senior students who had been expelled from the hostel. They also questioned classmates of Manjot. Manjot committed suicide four days after joining college on August 1.

Surprisingly, Medical Superintendent Dr Harsh Mohan said that he was unaware of the visiting officials. This despite the fact that the officials arrived around noon today and had lunch at the hospital. Director Principal Dr HM Swami - in whose office the police team interrogated the students - refused to meet the media or comment on the investigations.

Advertisement
“It’s too early to say anything now. We will first talk to the students and analyse their statements,” said Sub Inspector Joginder Singh. While the names of the 19 senior students was provided by the college, the team asked to talk to seven first year students whose names had been provided to them by Manjot’s family.

“Manjot had given his father a few names. He said that on the first day the seniors kept him till 11 pm and on the second day the ragging went on till 2 am in the night. Initially we remained silent because we didn’t know what to do,” his uncle Sarabjeet said.

He also said that a few seniors had talked to him. “They were cooperative in the beginning. But now they are under pressure from the college and don’t take my calls,” said Sarabjeet. “Recording their statements in the presence of the college authorities is also of no use as they will not be allowed to speak the truth,” he said.