A 36-year-old PhD student from the Microbiology Department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) allegedly tried to commit suicide and has accused his supervisor of mental harassment, abuse and delay in his fellowship.
The fifth-year student attempted suicide at his residence in Gautam Nagar by taking a drug overdose on Sunday and is currently admitted in the hospital’s psychiatry ward for counselling.
Sparks protests
The incident sparked immediate protests by PhD students of the premier institute who are demanding suspension and strict action against the accused supervisor.
Consumed sleeping pills
However, according to the police, they are yet to receive any formal complaint into the incident.
“The student was admitted to AIIMS after consuming sleeping pills. Preliminary enquiry conducted revealed that the patient is a student of PhD and was feeling harassed by his guide. He had taken sleeping pills. He is stable now but still in AIIMS. No formal complaint has been received so far,” Romil Baaniya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) said.
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.
Humiliated
“I have been under constant mental harassment and humiliation. She has again and again used filthy and abusive language in front of everyone. She scolds even when work is done correctly. My mental harassment is aggravated as she is not able to procure appropriate facilities, funds in the lab and makes no attempt to get the things done. My fellowship is delayed and this puts me in additional financial problem and mental burden,” the student alleged in the letter.
Lack of equipment
He also claimed that some PhD students under the same guide, have contracted TB while working in the lab due to the lack of proper equipment and personal protective accessories given to them.
“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.
