Junior doctors go on strike in Raipur

Junior doctors of a leading medical college and hospital in Raipur went on an indefinite strike after a professor was assaulted three days back.

Junior doctors of a leading medical college and hospital in Raipur went on an indefinite strike on Sunday after a professor of the institute was assaulted three days back, allegedly by cadres of the Bharatiya Janshakti Party.

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The strike crippled services at the Bhimrao Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital in Raipur. The striking doctors were demanding immediate unconditional apology from the attackers.

The cadres stormed into the chamber of associate professor VK Jain on Thursday and sprayed his face with mud alleging that the doctor used abusive words against Hindu goddess Lakshmi while reciting a poem in an Independence Day function.

However, Jain told reporters Saturday: "My poems were misunderstood by some people at the Independence Day function in the college campus. Some people interpreted wrong meanings but I seek apology if my poem hurt any religious sentiments."

A senior doctor told IANS on Sunday: "Though the police have arrested the attackers and released them on bail, the incident has shocked the entire medical community in the state. Jain's family has been living under terror after the assault."

The hospital shot to international fame in May this year when a team of doctors successfully separated 10-month-old conjoined twins in a rare surgery. The boys were attached at the stomach and shared a liver.

Uma Bharti launched the Bharatiya Janshakti Party in 2006, after she rebelled against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.