KMC student Preeti\'s battling for life at NIMS

HYDERABAD: Doctors at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences here were on Thursday trying their best to treat Dr Daravath Preethi, a first year MD (Anesthesia) student who was found unconscious at the Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) in Warangal on Wednesday.

Outside the hospital, her father, D. Narender, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Kazipet, tried to gather help for his daughter and set the record straight as to what had happened.

Inside the hospital, Dr Padmaja along with the team of five specialist doctors tried to help the victim. Doctors said her condition was serious.

Dr Preethi was found unconscious at the KMC at about 6.30 am on Wednesday. Narender said she had last called him at 1030 am on Tuesday night. Narender said he asked if she was still being harassed. “She said, ‘Daddy, you will see the result soon’, and hung up,” he said, amid tears.

 Narender said a senior named Dr Mohammed Saif had been physically and mentally harassing Dr Preethi since she joined the KMC on November 18 last.
“I gave a written complaint twice asking college principal Dr Mohan Das and HoD Dr Niranjan Reddy to take action against Dr Saif but they did not," Narender told Deccan Chronicle. “If anything happens to my daughter I would hold them responsible, as well as Dr Saif.”

Narendar said received a call from a person who refused to disclose his name, who said that Dr Preeti was lying unconscious. The parents rushed to Waangal from their house in Uppal, and shifted her to MGM Hospital. She was later shifted to NIMS.

One of Dr Preethi’s cousins said that Dr Saif was forcing her to marry him. Narender accused Dr Saif and three others of administering poison to Dr Preethi.
KMC's Dr Nagarjuna Reddy said that he had issued a notice to both Dr Preethi and Dr Saif to give a written explanation. The victim’s room was sealed and CLUES teams searched  the premises. Dr Preeti’s mobile was taken to collect technical evidence.

Dr Saif and three of his friends were taken into custody by the Warangal police while the KMC Principal and HoD have been served notices.

Director of Medical Education Dr K. Ramesh Reddy who visited Nims told mediapersons that an inquiry would be conducted and action taken against those responsible.

He condemned the allegation that senior students were ragging juniors. He said seniors could have been harsh in the manner they briefed the juniors about their responsibilities, but it was not ragging.

Narendar reacted with anger to this statement and recalled that Dr Preethi had informed him that her seniors are harassing her three months back. He said he had complained to the police about Dr Saif.

He said the college management was spreading rumours that Dr Preethi was suffering from some ailments, but this was not true.

Police officials also registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Dr Saif. The junior doctors association extended their support to Dr Saif.

Various student organisations tried to hold a dharna in front of the Kakatiya Medical College but police took the leaders into custody.