Bhopal: In a tragic incident, a female Assistant Professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, has allegedly died by suicide following repeated harassment within her department. The case has prompted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene and seek a detailed inquiry into the matter.The commission has directed the authorities concerned to submit a comprehensive report within 15 days. It has asked the Bhopal Police, the management of AIIMS Bhopal, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide details of the investigation.NHRC has also sought copies of the FIR, the post-mortem report and other relevant documents related to the case. The commission emphasised that the inquiry should be conducted thoroughly and transparently.The issue came to light after NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo took cognisance of a complaint regarding the alleged harassment. In a post on the social media platform X, he stated that the Assistant Professor had allegedly died by suicide after facing repeated harassment and humiliation from a senior official in her department.According to Kanoongo, the doctor had previously filed three separate complaints against the Head of Department, accusing him of harassment. However, the complaint alleged that instead of initiating strict action, the hospital management attempted to suppress the matter.It was also claimed that the Assistant Professor, deeply distressed and frustrated by the situation, consumed a sedative drug in an attempt to render herself unconscious.She later died, turning the incident into a deeply tragic loss for the medical community. Kanoongo described the episode as “extremely tragic,” noting that the death of a promising young doctor has saddened many.The NHRC has stated that it will closely monitor the investigation and ensure that strict action is taken against anyone found guilty. The commission also stressed the need for systemic reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
