SURAT: Four doctors have been suspended following the death by suicide of a 29-year-old postgraduate medical student at Government Medical College (GMC), Surat, amid allegations that he had spoken about harassment by seniors.The deceased, Dr Harsh Pandya, a first-year MD microbiology student, was found hanging in his room at the PG hostel on Sunday morning. Pandya, a native of Aravalli district, had joined GMC in February after securing admission to the microbiology department.The suspension comes as authorities investigate whether Pandya faced ragging or harassment by senior doctors or professors.Health minister Praful Panseriya had ordered an internal inquiry following the incident. The probe is being conducted under the supervision of additional director of medical education and research Dr Jayesh Sachde. The committee includes New Civil Hospital superintendent Dr Parul Vadgama, GMC Surat dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt and other senior doctors.Pandya’s father, Subhas Pandya, who is also a doctor, had told media persons that his son had previously spoken to him about harassment by seniors.“When I used to talk to Harsh, he mentioned about harassment by seniors. Let us hope the postmortem report and committee report comes to some conclusion,” he said.Panseriya said he had spoken to Pandya’s father and assured him that justice would be delivered. He also said statements of students present at the college would be recorded and the inquiry report submitted within 24 hours.“The investigation will determine whether the doctor faced any ragging or harassment by a senior doctor or professor,” the minister said.Khatodara police inspector N V Bharwad said police received information about Pandya’s death around 9am on Sunday. Police checked his hostel room, numbered 1005, but did not find a suicide note.“We are investigating what might have led to this extreme step,” Bharwad told TOI.Pandya’s colleagues became concerned when he failed to report for duty on Sunday morning. They tried calling him, but he did not respond. They then went to his hostel room and alerted security personnel after receiving no response despite knocking on the door.The door was subsequently broken open, following which Pandya was found hanging from the ceiling fan.The four doctors’ suspension and the internal inquiry are now at the centre of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
