‘Forced to work in Covid-19 ward’, nursing student jumps off hostel building in Uttar Pradesh

Police has registered a complaint against the medical college’s principal.

Nurses and some nursing students at a Shahjahanpur medical college hospital in Uttar Pradesh staged a protest against the college administration after a nursing student allegedly jumped off the first floor of the hostel alleging torture, harassment and forced deployment in Covid-19 ward of the hospital by the authorities.

Police confirmed the incident and said the nursing student received injuries after jumping from the first floor of the hostel. (HT Photo/Representative)

Senior police and administrative officials of the district interacted with the students and assured them of their support.

A 22-year-old nurse from Uttar Pradesh was injured after she allegedly jumped off the first floor of her hostel located inside a medical college campus in Tilhar area of Shahjahanpur on Tuesday evening, police said. The nursing student recorded and shared a video claiming they were being forced to work in Covid-19 ward by the college administration and alleged mental harassment.

Police have lodged an FIR against the principal and two other staff of the medical college and initiated investigation.

Confirming the incident, superintendent of police of Shahjahanpur S Anand said, “The incident occurred at Varun Arjun Medical College in Tilhar area at 6 pm on Tuesday. The nurse jumped from the first floor and was injured. She has been admitted to medical college hospital.”

In a police complaint, the mother of the girl has alleged that her daughter was forced to work in Covid-19 ward and was not given protective equipment mandated by the central government.

“The management threatened to cancel her diploma. She was also threatened and was not provided food,” the mother has alleged in the police complaint.

Based on her complaint, police have lodged an FIR under section 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) at Tilhar police station.