'The Kerala story' Clash: 5 medicos sustain injuries, FIR lodged, 10 rusticated from GMC hostel
Jammu: Authorities have rusticated 10 students from Government Medical College (GMC) hostel for two months and also debarred them from attending classes till the completion of an inquiry following a scuffle over ‘The Kerala Story’ movie.
GMC Principal Shashi Sudhan Sharma also requested Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, to take all precautionary measures, including deployment of additional police personnel around the hostel and college premises, to avoid any law and order problem.
Five medical students had suffered injuries after a scuffle ensued between two groups over 'The Kerala Story' movie at a hostel, sparking protests in Government Medical College (GMC) with participants demanding an inquiry and appropriate action against culprits.
“As per the report of the wardens of the boys hostel, 10 students (involved in the scuffle) have been rusticated from the hostel for two months and also debarred from attending the classes till the completion of the inquiry by the disciplinary committee of the institute,” Sharma said in a statement to PTI. She said the report of the hostel warden has been forwarded to the disciplinary committee of the institution for inquiry, which has to be completed within seven days.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Chandan Kohli said an investigation into the matter is underway.
Moreover, the principal of the Government Medical College has termed the incident as "unfortunate" and assured students that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible to maintain peace in the institute.
''There has been an incident of scuffle between some students and outsiders in GMC hostel Jammu. Cognisance of the matter has been taken and investigation is going on,'' the SSP informed PTI.
The protesting students said the scuffle took place after late Sunday night when a student shared a link of the controversial film in the official group of the first-year students, which was objected by one of his batchmates, stating that the group is meant for academic purposes only.
The student, who had objected to the sharing of the link, was later confronted and assaulted inside the hostel, leading to a scuffle as more and more students along with some outsiders joined the ruckus.
The students alleged that members of a right-wing group were brought into the hostel from outside, who shouted religious slogans and attacked one of the students with a sharp-edged object, injuring him in the head. Two more students also sustained injuries in the assault.
The outsiders fled after police rushed to the scene to control the situation.
A group of students boycotted their classes and assembled outside GMC hospital this morning to press for an inquiry and demand appropriate action against the culprits.
''It was a deliberate attempt to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. The Kerala story movie is not some holy sculpture…People have different opinions with regard to the controversial film,'' a student said, demanding that culprits be identified and appropriate actions be taken against them as a deterrent to ensure a peaceful atmosphere on the campus.
"The CCTV footage is available to nail the culprits." Principal GMC Shashi Sudhan Sharma visited the protesting students and assured them that action will be taken as per the law of the land.
"There was a scuffle in the boys hostel and five students suffered minor injuries. Four of them were discharged immediately, while one of them who had received stitches in the head, is being discharged within two hours," Sharma, who visited the emergency ward to enquire about the injured student's health, told PTI reporters.
"A WhatsApp message worked as instigation but the situation is well under control (now). The interference of some medicos who have left the institute and some others was recorded," she said, adding an FIR has already been lodged and the disciplinary committee is doing its job.
Sharma said they want to send a strong message that there is zero tolerance for such types of unfortunate activities in the premier institute where the students have come for professional courses and not to indulge in such types of things.
“As desired by students, the letter for the lodgement of FIR against an ex-student of GMC Jammu who participated in the scuffle was forwarded to Station House Officer, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu. As conveyed by the SHO, the FIR has been lodged,” she said. Sharma said only one student who received injuries during the scuffle is presently admitted to GMC Jammu for treatment and observation.
“He is a resident of Bhaderwah (in Doda district) and is recovering well. As per doctors, he shall be discharged probably within next 24 hours,” she said. Sharma said she along with the Heads of Departments and the wardens again met the students in the morning in the college premises and assured them action under rules against everyone involved in creating such a situation. Additional eight security personnel and one security supervisor have been deployed in the hostel for maintaining round-the-clock security, she said.
She said security has been stepped up and discipline will be ensured. "This institution has a lot of responsibility towards patient care and there is no scope for activities that promote regionalism or discrimination based on religion, caste, creed and colour." Reacting to a post shared by a social media user showing one of the injured students undergoing treatment, the Peoples Democratic Party president attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly dividing people on communal lines.
"Shocking that GOI (Government of India) promotes & encourages violence through movies stoking communal fires. The blood of innocents is being spilled to quench BJPs insatiable thirst for petty electoral dividends. Request @OfficeOfLGJandK ji to take cognisance & punish the culprits," Mufti wrote on Twitter.
National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Very distressing images of gunda elements targeting Kashmiri students in Jammu”. Asking the Jammu Kashmir Police to take cognisance of this and ensure those responsible are brought to book, he further wrote @OfficeOfLGJandK must ensure this is done in a time-bound manner & reassure students that their safety will not be compromised at the alter of politics.”
Omar also retweeted a post saying “Kashmiri students protest at GMC Jammu after muslim students assaulted”. “We have come here to study not to fight. Kashmiris are being targeted over and over again,” his retweet quoted students having told a local news agency in Kashmir.
People’s Conference chairman and former minister Sajjad Lone also took to Twitter and said, “the incident at GMC Jammu is reprehensible. These are young kids. And officers who are on charge have such young kids at home. Just hope that this issue is investigated in an unbiased and humane manner.”
“I saw some pictures. They are scary. I request @OfficeOfLGJandK to ensure that corrective actions are taken so that they are not repeated in the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, national Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that they have raised the issue with the JK Lieutenant Governor’s office and ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh to ensure that those responsible for the incident students are brought to justice. He appealed students to maintain peace and order on the campus.
