Mangaluru Association of Medical Consultants supports police action inside Hospital
Says those who were in the hospital were 'anti-social elements'
Mangaluru : Association of Medical Consultants, Mangalore (AMC) has sided with the local police in the city after Indian Medical Association (IMA) condemned the incident wherein the police barged into a local hospital on December 19 and ransacked the corridors of the hospital including the door of an ICU.
Dr. Santanu Sen, National President of IMA, issued a press release on Sunday condemning the incidents of police action and reports of denial of access to medical care to the injured protesters. The press release mentioned that the police barged into the ICU, clearly indicating the release was in reference to the incident reported from a hospital in Mangaluru.
The press release from the IMA asserted that it was a “new low in civic life of the nation” and “a clear indication of the new truth and the new standards”.
“IMA stands up for retaining hospitals as safe zones. All violence are unacceptable especially those perpetrated by the State on the people who require medical attention and care. Everyone should feel comfortable in the hands that heal. Indian Doctors will never let down whoever requires care. No politics can dilute this resolve” the press statement from IMA headquarters had stated.
Although the media release did not name Highland Hospital and the December 19 incident of Mangaluru at the Highland Hospital, it mentioned the barging of police department in ICU clearly indicating it’s reference to the Highland Hospital incident. CCTV footage of Highland hospital was doing rounds on social media platforms from Thursday showing police barging into hospital and trying to break open the door of ICU.
AMC in a press release rejected the reports and added that it was unacceptable as the release by National IMA from Delhi condemned the incidents of violence in general across the country and not any specific incident.
“Very surprising is a reference in the news reports, to such a specific incident in Highland Hospital Mangalore on December 19, even though the media release by National IMA from Delhi condemned the incidents of violence in general across the country and not any specific incident” AMC’s press statement stated.
“AMC Mangalore, condemns any violence means of protest, including those from within Highland Hospital during the said incident and violent attacks on a police station in the city earlier in the day, which eventually resulted in a tense situation leading to curfew. These misguided anti-social elements resorting to violence against the police are often the same people who create nuisances in the Hospital and interference in duty of Doctors for providing medical treatment” it further added.
The Association also sided with the police’s version of the story and added police entered the hospital to tackle 'miscreants who create Law and Order issues on the street but had entered hospital to hide'. It also denied reports claiming police action amounted to a denial of healthcare access to the needy.
“We Doctors often take help of police when there are incidents of abuse/violence in Hospitals and police have promptly brought the situation under control. How is it any different when the same police enter the hospital to tackle miscreants who create Law and Order issues on the street but had entered hospital to hide? We strongly deny any allegation that police actions amount to denial of healthcare access to the needy. In fact, on our inquiry at the incident site, no interference was reported. To further condemn the violence by police personnel on patients by the media reports, is highly unacceptable, as nothing close to this has happened at all. There is no complaint either by the hospital owners, Doctors” the release added.
Dr. Yusuf Kumble, noted cardiologist of the city and MD of Indiana Hospital Mangaluru, who is also an executive committee member of AMC differed with the view and facts expressed by the association and claimed that the committee was not considered before issuing the press release.
Dr. Yusuf Kumble, when contacted by Vartha Bharati voiced his dissent over the press release and added the press release over the issue was not right. He also claimed he was not consulted before issuing the press statement.
Dr. Kumble also noted that he has brought his views and differences over the statement to the notice of the association while also adding that he does not deny the police atrocities at the highland hospital on December 19.
“There are enough evidence to establish the fact that the police barged into the hospital and ransacked the corridors and ICU. There is no denial that the police carried atrocities inside hospital premises. We as a body cannot decide if those present in the hospital when police barged in, were anti-social elements” Dr. Kumble told Vartha Bharati.
Dr. Kumble further added that the body cannot zero-in on people and label them as 'those who often create nuisances at the hospitals'.
“We cannot point at people and say these are the people who often creates nuisances at the hospitals. We also cannot side with the police and say whatever they did was right, we cannot give clean chit to the personnel for what they did on December 19, evening. An inquiry into the matter will reveal details and facts about the incident and it is the job of judiciary to give clean chit to the cops, not us. I have brought all these points to the notice of the association” Dr. Kumble added.
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Kerala lynching: CM assures justice, CPI (M) targets RSS-BJP over incident
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala government on Monday assured stringent action in the mob lynching of a Chattisgarh native mistaken to be a thief, and promised justice to the family, even as the ruling CPI(M) targeted the RSS over the assault, a charge denied by the BJP.
Ramnarayan (31), was allegedly beaten to death on Wednesday after being accused of involvement in theft at Kizhakeattappallam near Walayar in Palakkad district.
With the issue sending shock waves across the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday described the incident as "deeply disturbing".
Assuring justice to his family, who have arrived in the state, Vijayan said such acts tarnish the reputation of a progressive society like Kerala and are completely unacceptable.
State minister M B Rajesh claimed racial slurs were made at the victim and that the attackers were RSS workers. Ruling CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan also alleged that RSS-BJP workers were behind the crime.
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In a statement issued by the CM's office, Vijayan said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the crime.
A special investigation team of the district police is probing the incident, he said, adding that instructions have been issued to thoroughly examine the details of the case and initiate all necessary legal proceedings.
The government will also review the matter and ensure appropriate compensation to the victim's family, Vijayan added.
He called for collective vigilance to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
His remarks came a day after opposition Congress and the victim's family demanded compensation and an investigation under stringent laws, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The brother of deceased man told reporters on Sunday that the family would not accept the body until their demands, including compensation of Rs 25 lakh, are met.
Kerala ministers K Rajan and Rajesh strongly condemned the incident and said it was not just a mob lynching case but racial abuse was involved in it.
The ministers said the accused had attacked the deceased man, calling him a "Bangladeshi" and beat him to death.
"The government will ensure a foolproof probe into the incident, and no one involved in the crime will be spared," Revenue Minister Rajan told reporters in Thrissur.
He said an amount not less than Rs 10 lakh would be granted from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to the deceased man's family and a cabinet meeting would take a decision in this regard.
LSGD Minister Rajesh also said Ramnarayan was branded as a Bangladeshi by the attackers.
While talking to reporters in Palakkad, he alleged that those who brutally assaulted and killed Ramnarayan were RSS workers.
The Chhattisgarh native, who reached Kerala in search of a job, became a victim of the "divisive politics" of Sangh Parivar, Rajesh further alleged.
"Branding a person as Bangladeshi came from racial politics. Ramnarayan was a victim of the racial poison spread by the Sangh Parivar in the country," he charged.
Rajesh also accused a section of the media of hiding the involvement of the RSS in the assault.
Stepping up the attack against the right-wing groups, CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that RSS-BJP workers were the ones behind the crime.
"Those involved in the incident were accused in various criminal cases of RSS. All of them were identified. Such cruelties should not be allowed to repeat in the state," he said.
Expressing strong protest, the senior leader further said a society which believes in democratic values and secular principles cannot accept such crimes.
Senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan strongly rejected the charges against the saffron party and the RSS.
"Actually, why is politics mixed in such crimes. When a heinous crime like mob lynching happens, should it not be treated as an anti-social act," he told reporters here.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan urged the government to take urgent steps to provide financial assistance to the family of Ramnarayan.
Meanwhile, Palakkad Superintendent of Police Ajit Kumar said at present, the case was registered under sections of murder, and after a detailed probe, more would be added.
After verifying the caste certificate of the deceased man, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would also be invoked, he told reporters in Palakkad.
A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the DSP (district crime branch) to probe the mob lynching incident. The SIT will be under the direction and supervision of the Pakakkad SP, he added.
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When reporters asked about the political background of the accused persons, the officer said it was being verified.
He said that the arrested persons were already facing police cases.
Five people have been arrested so far for allegedly beating Ramnarayan to death on suspicion of theft.
The injured man was rushed to the Palakkad District Government Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
