Medico slits wrist near minister Joshi’s house - 3 faint during protest; students demand they be shifted from Chintpurni college to a recognised institute
Sunday, 12/10/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141012/punjab.htm#3
Amritsar : The ongoing protest by the students of Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital, Pathankot, took an ugly with a medico allegedly attempting suicide by slitting his veins near the residence of Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Anil Joshi here this evening.
The student, Harsukhdeep Singh of Nawanshahr, was rushed to nearby Guru Nanak Dev Hospital by his friends where his condition was stated to be stable. He was being operated upon when the report was filed.
A suicide note was found from his pocket in which he urged the state government to pay heed to their demand and shift his agitating friends to some recognised college. Three girls also fainted during the protest.
Perturbed over the poor response from the government, the students today shifted their protest from outside government medical college here to the road leading to the Minister’s residence in Medical Enclave around 6 pm. They raised slogans against Joshi and the government. A heavy police posse was deployed in the area.
The girls who fainted were taken to a private clinic from where one of them was shifted to a hospital. “We are under tremendous stress and pressure. We worked hard for getting admission in the college and now we are sitting on road for justice and our future,” said a student.
A Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) reached the spot and tried to convince the students to lift the dharna. But the protesters said they would stay put till the government shifted them to a recognised college.
The SDM offered to fix an appointment of five students with Joshi. The protesters refused, asking the Minister to come over to meet them.
The Medical Council of India had de-recognised the Pathankot college due to lack of infrastructure and staff. The students have been protesting since September 27. Their repeated requests to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Joshi and other departments have failed to yield any result.
