AIIMS student attempts suicide over harassment

Humiliated by supervisor, claims Ph. D student

Alleging harassment at the hands of his senior supervisor, a 36- year- old Ph. D. student, from the Microbiology department of AIIMS, attempted suicide on Sunday.

The student, who survived the suicide bid, has accused his supervisor of mental harassment, abuse, and delay in his fellowship.

The incident sparked immediate protests by the Ph. D. students of the premier institute, who are demanding suspension and strict action against the accused supervisor.

The fifth year student had, on Sunday, attempted suicide at his residence in Gautam Nagar by drug overdose. The victim, according to an acquaintance, is right now admitted at the hospital’s psychiatry ward for counselling. Though a preliminary inquiry was conducted, according to the police it is yet to receive any formal complaint in the incident.

“Dr Rajat Prakash was admitted to AIIMS after consuming sleeping pills. Preliminary enquiry conducted revealed that the patient is a Ph. D. student and was feeling harassed by his guide. He had taken sleeping pills. He is stable, but still at AIIMS. No formal complaint has been received so far,” DCP ( South) Romil Baaniya said.

Notably, in his letter to AIIMS director Randeep Guleria, the student alleged that he was being mentally harassed and humiliated by the supervisor under whom he got registered in August 2013.

“I have been under constant mental harassment and humiliation. She has repeatedly used filthy and abusive language in front of everyone. She scolds even when the work is done correctly. My mental harassment aggravated as she is unable to procure appropriate facilities and funds for the lab and makes no attempt to get things done. Due to not holding DCs on time, my fellowship is getting delayed. This puts me in additional financial problem and adds to my mental burden,” the student alleged in the letter.

He also claimed that some students, who are doing their PhD under the same guide, contracted tuberculosis while working in the lab owing to lack of proper equipments and protective accessories. “We are looking into the matter and the allegations made by the student. An inquiry into the incident will be conducted accordingly,” a senior AIIMS official said.