GMC Yavatmal Shocker: Final year MBBS student murdered in college campus

The incident prompted other students and resident doctors at the government hospital to go on a strike on Thursday. The protesting medicos demanded immediate arrest of the assailants and resignation of dean Dr Milind Kamble.

Also Read: FIR against Assam hospital after Judge accuses facility of attempt to murder, organ transplant

The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Ashok Pal, who hailed from Thane. Sources quoted as saying by Times of India, unidentified assailants intercepted the medico on the road leading to the new boys hostel when he was returning from the college library around 8.30pm. Fellow students and passers-by spotted him lying in a pool of blood and rushed him to the hospital.

PTI reports that he was admitted in the accident ward of the hospital where he died. Pal suffered deep wounds inflicted by sharp weapons. The post mortem was conducted in the hospital and the uncle of the deceased claimed the body which was taken to his native place Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

The hospital lodged an FIR against the unidentified assailants on Wednesday night.

As per the complaint filed by medical superintendent Dr Surendra Bhuyar, first the college authorities thought that the medical student had met with accident, but later stab injuries were found on his chest.

Aakash Gofne (21) and Tushar Nagdevte (24), residents of Waghapur in Yavatmal district, were arrested on suspicion, said superintendent of police Dilip Bhujbal-Patil. Their interrogation is in progress, Bhujbal added. On Thursday, the two suspects were granted PCR till November 15 after they were produced in court.

Police were looking for another accused, he added.

On August 30 this year, the accused had been found urinating near the girls' hostel and had had a fight with Pal and other students, as per the college authorities. Gofne and Nagdevte had allegedly threatened Pal during the incident, the SP told PTI.

The murder, triggered the MBBS students as well as resident doctors and nurses at the hospital. The MBBS students staying in the hostels reached the hospital after learning about the murder started shouting slogans against the college administration and the police. They also launched an indefinite strike at the main gate on Thursday.

The OPD was closed on Thursday due to the strike.

SP Bhujbal, additional SP Khanderao Dharne, city police station officer Nandkishilor Pant, Awadootwadi PSO Manoj Khandare, LCB chief Pradeep Pardeshi and a police team rushed to the college. The SP and collector Amol Yedge, who also visited the college, assured the students of immediate arrests in the case and appealed to them to maintain peace.

On the other hand, the in-charge dean of the college Dr Milind Kamble stated he was tendering resignation as demanded by the protesting students, sources told PTI. He has sent his resignation letter to the director of medical education and research, reports TOI.

After a quarrel between the students and outsiders in August, the city police had registered an FIR against both sides. The issue was amicably settled after councillor Nitin Mirzapure intervened. The students and the outsiders moved a joint application before the police saying that they have settled the issue and didn't want to go ahead with the FIR.

Dean Dr Kamble stated, "This might be the reason behind the murder. But the victim was a calm person."

The students stated that life of a brilliant student was lost due to lapses of the college administration. They alleged that there are no CCTV cameras and street lights on the campus roads. The college administration was apprised of the situation on many occasions but it turned a blind eye, they added.

They also claimed there is no adequate security arrangements in the college.

The collector said that all measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in future. "The administration would send a proposal to the state government to grant adequate compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased medico," he added.

Also Read: Woman doctor murdered inside Govt hospital quarter, absconding MR husband suspected