Also read in

Not feeling safe inside SMCH campus says Principal Bezbaruah; appeals for Police Outpost

During the Corona pandemic, Silchar Medical College & Hospital was the most trusted health institution in the entire Barak Valley. For this, the state government and the health department have repeatedly thanked everyone from the college authority, including the Principal. However, the doctors working here, including the Principal of the Medical College, have been very disappointed regarding some recent incidents. They don’t feel safe inside the medical campus anymore. Regarding this issue, Principal Dr. Babul Bezbarua sent a letter to Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday. He also appealed to the police department to convert Ghungoor outpost into a full-fledged thana.

In a tone of frustration and disappointment, Principal Dr. Babul Bezbarua said, “We have all worked hard during the Corona situation, even the doctors and health workers have risked their lives in the process. The government has also given us recognition. Our doctors have worked hard to provide adequate services to the hospital by overcoming the obstacles. But since the situation came under control, some vicious groups have been trying to ruin the environment in our hospital. Using various excuses, they enter the campus and spread unrest. If the situation gets out of control, we inform the police, but the number of police is inadequate as there is no full-fledged police station here. Two policemen can’t do anything with sticks against outnumbered 50 people. Seeing all this, I become quite disappointed and sometimes even feel like asking the government to send me away to someplace else. But I’m not the kind of person who abandons his responsibility. I have written a letter to the Minister of Health demanding the protection of everyone residing in the campus. I have presented the whole situation to him & request them to strengthen the security system inside the hospital campus.”

“On behalf of the hospital authority, a formal request has been submitted to the Cachar District Administration to convert the Ghungoor police outpost into a police station and tighten the security of Silchar Medical College at the earliest. We have requested the police department in this regard, we hope they will respond to our words.”

Superintendent of Cachar Police B. L. Meena said that a formal request has been made in this regard and they are making arrangements to send it to the concerned department of the state government. Also, additional security is being discussed inside the campus of Silchar Medical College & Hospital. The officials of the department will talk to the Health Minister and the Chief Minister in this regard.

Two days ago, some people including a group of students, came to the blood bank of Silchar Medical College Hospital to donate blood and ended up creating a ruckus. A few students wearing Silchar Polytechnic uniform who came to donate blood were asked to click their pictures as part of the protocol. But the donors denied the authority from clicking their pictures. This led to a heated argument between the blood bank authorities and the blood donors, which gradually escalated. A man named Kala allegedly got involved in this, after which they started physically assaulting the blood bank in-charge and other doctors present there. Eventually, the hospital authorities reported the matter to the Ghungoor outpost and then the police came and arrested one person. But even after that, about fifty people, including some students of Silchar Polytechnic, started chanting slogans on the premises of the Medical College Hospital.

This isn’t the first instance of attempts to ruin the environment of the hospital. Principal Dr. Babul Bezbaruah made these aforementioned remarks in presence of the Health Minister of Assam in college premises.

This incident has been criticised by the hospital authorities as well as teachers & students. On Wednesday afternoon, they staged a protest wearing black badges and made a joint statement to the media. It said, “A vicious circle is constantly working to pollute the environment of the Silchar Medical College Hospital. They are now trying to attack the doctors working in the hospital and the students who come here to study. We want the administration to look into this and help restore a healthy environment in the hospital.”

It is worth mentioning that there have been various complaints regarding the blood bank of Silchar Medical College Hospital for a long time. After taking charge as the in-charge, Dr. Rajiv Biswas has taken several important decisions including the installation of CCTV cameras. Every evening he talks to random strangers near the Blood Bank and videotapes them with his mobile phone. Many are reluctant to reveal their identities and some even get agitated against him. In the past, there have been allegations of financial irregularities in the name of blood donation against the hospital authorities. One person eventually committed suicide. However, recently a person named Kala started making various allegations against Rajiv Biswas. Kala, who led the agitation on Tuesday afternoon, is now in the hands of the police. It remains to be seen how much the intervention of the health minister will help in this case.

Comments are closed.