February 18: Saif made a remark in a WhatsApp group about a case sheet, “you don’t have brains”
February 20: Preethi complained to her father Narendra about the harassment
February 21: The head of the department spoke to Saif and Preethi. She was on night duty
February22: Preethi was found unconscious by hospital staff and later moved to NIMS
February23: Governor visits Dr Preethi
February 24: Saif was arrested and remand to 14 days custody
February25: NCSC directs Warangal police to submit information of action taken within 7 days in Preethi case
February 26: Preethi declared dead
Hyderabad: The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) declared Warangal medical student Dr D. Preethi dead on Sunday. The medico from Kakatiya Medical College was brought to NIMS five days ago after she allegedly attempted suicide and has been battling for life. NIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Satyanarayana issued a bulletin saying, “Despite continuous efforts by a multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors, Dr Preethi could not be saved and was declared dead on February 26 at 9.10 pm.” Following the announcement, the police wanted to move the body of the deceased, but her father demanded written assurances. Preethi’s father said that so far the reason for her death has not been told to the family and it is certain that it is not a case of suicide. The family sought written assurance of the steps taken by the government to ensure justice.
Tension gripped NIMS as tribal and political organisations came to the hospital and raised slogans like “We want justice.” The Panjagutta Police reportedly took some people into preventive custody. Preethi’s family demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge to investigate events that led to Preethi’s suicide. The family reportedly demanded that the Principal and the Superintendent should be suspended until the inquiry is over to ensure a fair probe. The situation at NIMS hospital had been tense from Sunday morning. The police were deployed at NIMS to prevent trouble as some groups staged a protest in the evening demanding the State government should pay ex-gratia to the family of Dr Preethi. A large group of people gathered at the hospital awaiting updates on Preethi’s condition. Following the announcement of Preethi’s death, the police was kept on alert at Gandhi Hospital too, where officials wanted to shift the medico’s body for the post-mortem. On February 22, Dr Preethi who was pursuing second year post-graduation in anaesthesia at the Kakatiya Medical College administered herself a lethal injection allegedly due to harassment by a senior medico, Saif. She was shifted to NIMS Hyderabad on the same day and was kept in the intensive care unit as she was critical. Doctors released several updates over the last five days stating that there is no improvement in Dr Preethi’s vital parameters.
Meanwhile, Preethi’s family maintained that she attempted suicide due to harassment. Earlier, Preethi’s father D. Nagender, had also filed a case against Preethi’s senior Saif and KMC HoD Nagarjuna for allegedly harassing Preethi.
The accused senior, Saif, was taken into custody by the police and is being investigated. The police invoked IPC Sections against ragging and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Commissioner AV Ranganath told reporters that Preethi had complained of persistent targeted harassment and deliberate attempts to insult her by Saif. However, the police are awaiting the toxicology examination report for conclusive evidence.
The accused Saif has been produced before the Warangal Court, which remanded him to custody for 14 days. Dr Saif has been shifted to Khammam Jail.
