Dalit Protest: Bus carrying 25 AIIMS Doctors, Nurses attacked

This Supreme Court order barring immediate arrest in case of complaints filed under the SCs/STs Act is facing violent criticism which was seen across all of North India, the attack was just a part.

New Delhi: On Monday, a group of Dalit protestors attacked a bus carrying doctors and nurses from All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) on Delhi-Ghaziabad highway (NH-24)  near Ghaziabad’s Shivpuri. The agitation was being carried out against the alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court.

A total of 25 people were onboard when the incident took place.The AIIMS medical staff was returning back from their duties from AIIMS National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre in Ghaziabad when the incident happened.

Fortunately, nobody was injured in the accident. “Bus with doctors and nurses from AIIMS was attacked by protesters on Delhi-Ghaziabad road. The attack took place at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border when the staff was returning from duty. Though nobody was hurt, the terrified staff is planning to write to the hospital administration to reconsider deputing people when such protests are on. The staff was coming back to Delhi from a Ghaziabad de-addiction centre and a total of 25 people were on the bus”, a senior doctor from AIIMS confirmed while talking to The Hindu.

Speaking to Mail Today, a doctor informed that their bus driver changed the route for a safer journey as Dalit protests were all over the news. But all routes were blocked. He shared that the mobs were very aggressive and everybody panicked.

“It was around 2.30 pm when our bus was vandalised. The attackers used big stones to damage the bus. As we are doctors, we managed to rescue ourselves which did not affect our mental status. However, at one point, I thought that I would not be able to go home alive”, another doctor shared with Mail Today.

One of the  AIIMS doctors, who were present in the bus, Dr Vijay told ANI, "Hopefully they will understand the grim situation of citizens of this republic and protest in a peaceful way.”

This Supreme Court order barring immediate arrest in case of complaints filed under the SCs/STs Act is facing violent criticism which was seen across all of North India, the attack was just a part of the same.

Financial Express reports that various Dalit groups took to the streets, damaging properties, burning vehicles, and blocking roads and railway tracks. Many deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Even at some places, the protestors clashed with the police which led to lathi-charge and tear-gassing. Schools were closed during ‘Bharat Bandh’ but south India remained unaffected. Agitators blocked Mumbai- Kolkata and Jabalpur-Hyderabad national highways for over an hour. Protestors also halted a Chennai-Delhi train at Gaddigodam. Internet services were suspended in Bharatpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Alwar and Sikar until 8 pm and indefinitely in Jalore, Jaisalmer, Sirohi, Pali and Barmer districts.