3 cops injured, vehicles gutted in fire after Darbhanga medicos attack shops

A group of medicos from Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) allegedly attacked medical shops in the vicinity following an argument between them and a shop owner over some issue on Friday night.

DARBHANGA: Several persons including 3 policemen were injured and shops and vehicles were gutted in fire after a group of rampaging medical students of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) allegedly attacked medical shops in the vicinity following an argument between them and a shop owner over some issue on Friday night, police said.

The agitated medical students of DMCH allegedly set on fire 4 shops inside the campus by sprinkling petrol.  (File)

4 medical shops, situated in the shopping complex near DMCH OPD, 2 cars and a scooter were set on fire.

“Soon after getting information, 2-3 fire tenders were pressed into service to extinguish fire. The incident reportedly took place after an argument between a medical shop owner and DMCH medicos. Adequate police reinforcement along with magistrate has been deployed on the campus. Three policemen, including one critically injured, were undergoing treatment in hospital”, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Krishnandan Prasad, told reporters.

According to some local residents, an argument broke out between the medical students and a shopkeeper running the medical shop late on Friday night. The matter escalated so much that the agitated students set on fire 4 shops inside the campus by sprinkling petrol. At the same time, staff of the medical shop was allegedly attacked with scissor and sustained bruises injuries on his face and another person sustained minor burn injury.

The police, who reached the spot, somehow pacified the matter. However, the medicos became so furious that 3 police personnel were also injured in the clash. A gas cylinder kept in a shop exploded in fire causing damage to properties.

Meanwhile, the medical students have refused to divulge anything in this regard.

According to information provided by the medical shop owner Javed Khan, the students came to buy Maggi from a grocery shop adjacent to the medical shop. As there was no shopkeeper at the grocery store at that time, a staff of the medical shop asked them to wait for a while.

The medicos reportedly got infuriated over this and an argument ensued. After this, the medicos called up their other friends.

The owner of the shop alleged that the medical students, who arrived in large numbers, had petrol cans in their hands. At least 4 persons got burnt in the incident. At the same time, 3 more shops situated adjacent to the medical shop, which came under fire, were also completely burnt. The local residents also gathered on the spot following the incident and stones were pelted from both the sides.

Meanwhile, secretary of Darbhanga Chemists and Druggists Association (DCDA) Jitendra Kumar Choudhary said that all medical shops in Darbhanga district will down their shutters on Saturday in protest against the incident.

The medical shop owners under the banner of DCDA sat on a dharna at Naka number 6 demanding strict action against those responsible for the violence. The traffic on hospital road was also blocked by putting barricades by local shopkeepers.

The Darbhanga chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) strongly condemned the unsavoury incident.

“In response to the attack on DMCH students and retaliatory violence, there has been loss of public property on both sides, for which we all doctors express our heartfelt pain and distress. IMA demands from the government that prompt action should be taken after proper investigation of the incident”, said a statement from IMA secretary Dr Amod Kumar Jha.

DMCH principal Dr K N Mishra, when contacted, didn’t take calls.