Minor among 3 arrested for MBBS student murder

For the unversed, a final year MBBS student of Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal, Dr Ashok Pal (24) was stabbed to death inside the college campus on Wednesday night.

Also Read: GMC Yavatmal Shocker: Final Year MBBS Student Murdered In College Campus

Triggered by the incident, the resident doctors and medical students at the hospital launched a strike on Thursday demanding immediate arrest of the assailants.

The outrage took a massive turn and residents from GMCH Nagpur, IGGMCH Nagpur and GMCH Akola threatened to go on strike from Saturday morning. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) committees of the three GMCs had served the strike notice to their deans on Friday afternoon.

General secretary of the students union, Dr Kartik Kunapwar, told TOI that all UG students, interns, MARD members (both junior and senior residents) and Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra Nurses Union and others are supporting the agitation.

Besides arrest of all the assailants, their demands include adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased, foolproof security arrangements, street lights and CCTVs, construction of compound walls, immediate appointment of regular dean and others.

Former minister and Digras Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Rathod, the Yavatmal district collector, superintendent of police and senior hospital officials held discussions with the protesting students at college campus on Friday.

Rathod had stated that he would follow up the demands with the chief minister and medical education minister, and had demanded that the students call off the strike. However, the agitating doctors turned down his appeal to call off the strike.

Also Read: MBBS Student Murder Case: GMC Yavatmal Medicos Strike Enters Day 2

A five-member team from MUHS too interacted with the students and assured to resolve their issues.

The IMA observed one day OPD bandh to express solidarity with the agitating students. The alumini offered Rs 5 lakh aid for the next of kin of Ashok Pal while IMA district unit has given Rs 3 lakh to the family. One of the IMA members has declared to bear the education expenses of Pal's younger brother and sister.

Showing solidarity towards unity of doctors, the doctors of government-run B J Medical College on Saturday participated in a candlelight march held to protest against the brutal murder of the doctor. The doctors and medical students of B J Medical College, Pune participated in large numbers in the candlelight march which was held at government-run Sassoon General Hospital, Dr Anand of B J Medical College was quoted as saying by UNI.

The case took a new turn on Saturday after the Yavatmal police claimed two youths have been arrested and a juvenile in conflict with law rounded up for the murder of the doctor.

The arrested youths have been identified as Rushikesh Gulabrao Sawale (23), a resident of Mahavir Nagar, and Pravin Sanjeev Gundajwar (24), a resident of Savitribai Phuley Society.

Superintendent of Police Dilip Bhujbal told The Indian Express, "We took the three into custody after zeroing in on the mobile phone numbers that were found in the call records of mobile towers in the area. After thorough interrogation, the trio blurted out the truth and confessed to having attacked Ashok Pal, the final year student of Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, on the stretch of road between the college library and hostel. They said they had an altercation with him after he was hit by their motorcycle…".

Yavatmal SP Dilip Patil-Bhujbal explained the circumstances under which the murder took place, suggesting that Pal, a resident of Thane district, was killed in a road rage incident. "The trio was on a motorbike which hit Pal who was returning to his hostel from the college library on the campus on Wednesday night. This led to a verbal duel which ended in stabbing of the MBBS student to death," he told media on Saturday.

Earlier, on Thursday, police had arrested Akash Gofane (21) and Tushar Nagdevte (24), with whom Pal and his friends had had an altercation on August 30. Their arrest was made on the basis of an alleged threat by the duo to Pal and his friends, despite peace being brokered between the two sides by the police. Gofane and Nagdevte were later sent to police custody till November 17.

The SP declared that the two youths arrested earlier and remanded in police custody are inncocent.

Asked if Gofane and Nagdevte will now be released, Bhujbal told TIE, "They will be in custody till November 17. We need to ascertain whether this was a case of supari killing as the said incident of altercation between the trio and Pal doesn't appear to be strong enough provocation for a fatal attack. Of course, that possibility can't also be ruled out." The suspects' bike and the knife have been seized, police told the daily.

The SP told TOI, "The arrests of the real murderers would put the speculations to rest. The motorcycle and weapons used in the crime have been seized. The juvenile offender has two other crimes already registered against him."

"The arrested youths will be produced before the court on Sunday," said the SP said adding that the city PSO Nandkishor Pant is investing the case. A reward of Rs one lakh cash was declered for cops involved in nabbing the trio.