ESIC Intern assaulted over late-night food delivery on campus, Medicos go on strike

Chennai: A video showing a final-year house surgeon at ESIC Medical College and Hospital in KK Nagar being allegedly attacked by housekeeping staff in the presence of security personnel over a food delivery has gone viral on social media. The intern sustained a dislocated shoulder and other injuries. He is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

The clash began when the housekeeping staff, along with three security personnel, stopped a food delivery agent from entering the campus and informed the intern that late-night food deliveries were restricted. When the intern questioned them about the 'order' preventing students from ordering food at night, the argument escalated into a physical altercation, with the housekeeping staff attacking the intern.

One of the interns who accompanied him recorded a video of the altercation which showed the housekeeping staff beating the intern resulting in bleeding from his mouth and dislocation of his left shoulder. 

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Based on a complaint filed by the students and interns, the college management terminated the housekeeping and security staff involved. The housekeeping staff was then arrested following a complaint and is currently in judicial custody.

This alleged attack on the medico led the undergraduate and postgraduate medical students to protest on the campus on Saturday demanding their safety. DT NEXT reported that the protesting students claimed that even the security who is supposed to protect the students did not help him and supported the attacker.

The incident occurred after 10 pm when the intern ordered food online and went to pick it up. Around 11:30 pm, security and housekeeping staff stopped the delivery agent from entering the campus, citing it was beyond the "permitted hours." When the intern argued with the staff outside the men's hostel, the situation escalated into a violent altercation.

Reports indicate that the college management had previously instructed security staff not to allow outsiders, including food delivery agents, onto the campus after 10:30 pm for security reasons.

However, the intern was beaten despite backing off as shown in the video. In response to the assault, a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter. 

Speaking to TOI, Hospital Dean Dr. Kalidas Chavan explained in detail, "He sustained blunt injuries on his shoulder and is being treated at the hospital. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the intern was beaten. We have terminated the housekeeping and security staff involved. The agencies that employed them have provided copies of the termination letters. We have also filed a police complaint and initiated an internal inquiry into the incident. A three-member committee, headed by the medical superintendent, will investigate the matter,

Meanwhile, the protesting student said the management provided them with copies of the termination letters from two agencies – Urekha Security Agency Private Limited, which dismissed H Anwer Basha, R Durai Raj, S Uthirapathy, N Ramamoorthy, and S Durai, and Alert Security Services, which relieved Balajeevagan due to "administrative reasons."

Condemning the attack on the intern, Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) alleged that the person who assaulted the intern was not a housekeeping staff but the assistant of the dean. They criticized the administration for failing to take immediate action and accused the dean of attempting a cover-up by not filing an official FIR.

"What is more shocking is the fact that the accused was not appointed officially by the administration. The dean was not willing to show any official appointment order for this accused. And the dean did not launch any official enquiry either. And the dean had promised to file an FIR with the institution's name. But he failed to do so, following which, the angered interns decided to approach a senior police official themselves and filed an independent FIR, suspecting a cover-up. Only then, was the accused remanded and 3 security personnel terminated. The suspicious appointment of such a goon within hostel premises, the delay in action by the Dean and the whole incident throw plenty of doubts regarding the college administration," mentioned the press note.

The association has demanded stricter regulations and increased transparency in staff appointments at medical colleges. They have urged the government to establish a student council in every medical college and implement a dedicated student mess for the convenience of the students so that the workers and security will be in proper and healthy communication with the students.

"We hope that such incidents don't occur in the future and request the govt to scrutinize the appointment of such goons and to be more transparent in such incidents. Assaults on doctors should be viewed very seriously and such assailants must be punished rigorously," added the press note. 

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