SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Sept 3: The Junior Doctors Association (JDA) of Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) Ranchi has accused home guards of falsely implicating innocent MBBS students in the August 14 incident. According to JDA officials, the students named in the FIR were not present at the scene during the time of the altercation.
JDA representatives clarified to the media that it was surprising to see students being implicated in the FIR despite clear evidence that they were on duty in their respective emergency departments during the incident.
“We have evidence they were on their duty in their respective emergency departments,” said the JDA.
The incident and aftermath
The incident on August 14 escalated when a minor altercation between students and home guards led to a physical assault on MBBS students and junior doctors. The attack left half a dozen students injured, requiring hospitalization.
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The JDA expressed astonishment that the home guards, who were allegedly intoxicated, not only assaulted the students and doctors but also lodged an FIR first.
“We, along with AMS Lt Colonel Dr Shailesh Tripathi and Dr Lakhan Majhi, had gone to the Integrated Control Room to lodge an institutional FIR around 9:30 pm. In the meantime, we received information that home guards personnel had attacked students in the badminton court with lathis and weapons. The home guard personnel intentionally attacked to delay the FIR from the junior doctors’ side. That is why we could not lodge the FIR before the home guards,” said JDA office bearers.
Allegations of false charges
The JDA strongly refuted the allegations made by the home guards, who claimed that the students made caste-based derogatory remarks. The JDA questioned how students could recognize the names and castes of the home guards when they were in civilian dress, suggesting that the charges were false and baseless.
Furthermore, the JDA dismissed the home guards’ claims of an attempted weapon loot as students were unaware of the location of the armoury.
The JDA representatives added that it is also a baseless charge that female home guards were physically contacted by students and their uniforms were torn.
