Chaos at Sri Krishna Medical College: Over 30 medical students sustain injuries, 1 in ICU after lathi charge, medicos allege police brutality
Patna: In a violent clash that broke out at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur, around 25-30 medical students sustained injuries, with 1 being admitted to the ICU after police allegedly stormed the campus and held a lathi charge on Sunday midnight.
It has been alleged that the students were lathi-charged by the police inside the campus resulting in many students suffering with broken bones, fractured ribs and severe head injuries. The students have alleged that after a group of policemen stopped medical students on bikes and allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 5000. When the students refused to pay, the officers resorted to violence, they claimed.
The students also accused the police officers of being intoxicated when they stopped the medical students on bike. They further claimed that around 4-5 police vans entered the campus and started lathi charges on them along with allegedly pelting stones at them. After the incident, the police reportedly took one student to the police station and allegedly beat him brutally threatening that his career would be ruined.
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Videos and photos of the incident that went viral on social media showed severely injured medical students receiving treatment in the emergency ward of SKMCH. Several students suffered brutal head injuries, including one who was pictured sitting in the emergency ward with blood oozing from his head. In contrast, others sustained injuries to their hands and legs.
One of the viral videos showed students demanding a policeman to undergo a medical test, suspecting him of being drunk during the incident.
In a letter addressed to the principal of SKMCH, the medical students alleged that students were allegedly brutally beaten during the commotion. Due to the lathi charge and stone-pelting, four ribs of a student were fractured. Another student suffered a severe head injury, causing continuous bleeding, and is currently admitted to the ICU. He is undergoing treatment at the trauma centre for injuries sustained in the lathi charge and stone-pelting, they mentioned.
"One student was taken to the police station, where he was kicked, punched, and beaten with a lathi. He was also threatened that his career would be ruined and was forced to sign a blank paper. His KTM Duke motorcycle was confiscated by the Ahiyapur police station," stated the students in the letter.
Following the incident, students staged a protest and halted emergency services on Monday. Demanding immediate action against the police officers, the students threatened to continue their protest until action was taken against them.
"There are indications that police personnel infiltrated the campus and instigated the attack. It is demanded that those involved in the lathi charge and stone-pelting be identified and arrested, and strict action be taken against the responsible police officers," added the letter.
In a post on 'X', a medical student said "We're studying day and night just to see this?? We demand @bihar_police @officecmbihar @NitishKumar @MuzaffarpurPol3 to suspend these policemen wef."
Meanwhile, the police told TOI, "Three students from SKMCH were returning after watching a movie late Sunday night. During a vehicle check at Old Zero Mile, the police patrol team stopped them on suspicion. The students did not have a license, leading to an argument between both parties. After the argument, the police took one medical student to thana. His two companions informed their hostel friends about this. Subsequently, more medical students arrived and started creating a ruckus."
Town SDPO-2, Vinita Sinha, said, “The police’s Dial-112 team was passing by the SKMCH at night. The police team stopped a young man riding a zigzagging bike and two other youths sitting behind him. These youths were not wearing helmets. The young man riding the bike was violating traffic rules. After being stopped, he called his fellow students and started causing a disturbance. Upon learning about the incident, around 40 boys came on bikes. They surrounded the police vehicle and tried to disrupt law and order. Also, a woman police officer in the Dial-112 vehicle was mistreated by them.”
Further Sinha added that "Mild force was used to maintain peace and order. An FIR has been lodged against 40 unidentified persons at the Town police station for disrupting law and order and creating ruckus. All the troublemakers will be identified and action will be taken against them."
IMA Bihar demands a thorough investigation
Coming in support of the injured medical students, the Indian Medical Association, (IMA) Bihar State Branch demands an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident and requests necessary action be taken against the guilty police personnel, and measures be implemented to ensure the safety and security of medical students in the future.
Expressing their concern about the incident, IMA pointed out that such brutal action by the police not only endangers the safety of medical students but also severely impacts the health and security system of the state.
"The IMA Bihar State Branch wants to inform you that on 21.07.2024, local police at SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, entered the campus and severely beat the medical students, resulting in serious injuries. Some students are still admitted to SKMCH in critical condition. The lathi charge by the police left many students with broken bones and severe head injuries, and several students were admitted to the ICU," stated the release.
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