3 member panel formed to probe DMCH violence

The Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) administration constituted a three-member probe committee on Monday to investigate the reason behind the arson and violence, allegedly involving medical students, in which some chemist shops situated in a building were set afire on Friday night near the DMCH outdoor patient ward (OPD) leading to massive public outrage in the city.

DARBHANGA: The Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) administration constituted a three-member probe committee on Monday to investigate the reason behind the arson and violence, allegedly involving medical students, in which some chemist shops situated in a building were set afire on Friday night near the DMCH outdoor patient ward (OPD) leading to massive public outrage in the city.

Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital. (HT Photo)

In the wake of the incident, DMCH principal Dr K N Mishra issued a notice on Monday to suspend all classes for undergraduates (UG) till March 20. In addition, the UG students, except the 2020 batch, were instructed to vacate their hostels. Even as the principal didn’t take calls, a senior faculty member said the examination of the students of the 2020 batch, however, will continue for now. “Most of the students have already left the hostels and gone home for Holi,” he added.

A report has been sought from the three-member panel comprising the medicine head of department (HoD) Dr UC Jha, his counterpart in the surgery department, Dr VS Prasad, and anesthesia HoD Dr Hari Damodar Singh in three days.

Meanwhile, police have lodged two FIRs (first information report), first on the basis of the statement by an injured policeman, Mohd Mustkim, an ASI posted at Laheriasarai police station, and the second one on the complaint made by a shopkeeper. Based on these two FIRs cases have been lodged against seven identified and two dozen unidentified persons.

At least four medical shops, situated in a shopping complex, close to the OPD ward on hospital campus were set on fire, causing an explosion in a gas cylinder leading to loss of properties. Several people, including three policemen, also sustained injuries in the incident.

The medical shop owner in his statement alleged that some medicos after celebrating Holi Milan came to his shop in an inebriated condition and demanded drugs and snacks. Upon refusal, they attacked the staff with a scissor and afterwards set the shops afire.

Police have started an investigation on the basis of the FIR and CCTV footage of the incident. No one has been arrested so far.