A postgraduate medical student from Warangal in Telangana, who was battling for her life after attempting suicide, succumbed on Sunday. The woman was a student at the state-run Kakatiya Medical College and was found unconscious after attempting to take her life on December 22.
Though she was undergoing treatment at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad, her condition worsened on Sunday. Police said the woman had resorted to the extreme step, either by administering some drug orally or intravenously.
Warangal Commissioner of Police (CP) A V Ranganath told reporters that the victim, a first-year PG student, was subjected to 'targeted harassment' by a male doctor. He added that the police retrieved data from an instant messaging app suggesting harassment of the woman by the accused, identified as Dr M A Saif. The police official said that "the accused was bossing over her".
The victim's father too had complained to the police, accusing Saif of harassing his daughter. According to him, the accused had been trying to belittle her and harass her. He had also posted comments against her on an instant messaging platform and the victim attempted suicide as she was unable to bear the harassment.
The accused, a second-year MD anaesthesia student, was arrested and sent to judicial custody.
The relatives of the deceased person, along with several student groups and civil society organisations, had taken out protest marches demanding justice for the victim.
Health Minister Harish Rao expressed condolences to the doctor's family. On behalf of the State government, Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the medico’s family.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has also expressed anguish over the demise of the post-graduate medical student, the Panchayat Raj Minister said. Rao said tough action would be taken against those found guilty.
