Mumbai: A 26-year-old female doctor, pursuing her second year MD in Gynaecology, belonging to a tribal community, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at the hostel of the civic-run Nair hospital on Thursday.
The student, identified as Payal Salman Tadvi, was suffering from depression after three of her senior colleagues had allegedly harassed her with casteist remarks, the police said.
According to sources, she committed suicide hours after performing two surgeries at Nair Hospital on Wednesday.
An FIR has been registered in the case and three students — Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehar and Ankita Khandaliwal have been booked under Atrocities Act for abetment to suicide.
“We have booked the trio for abetment of suicide under the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act and the Prevention of Atrocities Act. Investigations are underway,” said Abhinash Kumar deputy commissioner of police (Zone 3).
Meanwhile, Tadvi's cousin who wished to remain anonymous stated that Tadvi had mentioned about constant mental torture by three of her seniors owing to the fact that she belonged to a lower caste.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) said that the deceased had performed two surgeries prior to her suicide and did not show any signs of stress.
Reportedly, after performing her job she withdrew to her room and after constant knocking after a few hours, she was found dead. The hospital management then informed the local police.
Tadvi’s mother, who is suffering from cancer, said that her daughter had recently called her and informed her crying about the mental torture she was going through at the hands of the accused doctors. She also told her mother that these doctors had created a WhatsApp group where they would tease her with casteist slurs, which has now
been submitted to the police for further investigation.
