Burla: Stalemate over the VIMSAR row continues as a meeting convened by Sambalpur legislator Raseswari Panigrahi and attended by all parties on Monday evening did not reach any conclusion.
A unanimous decision could not be taken at the meeting attended by VIMSAR director Prof Ashwini Pujahari, superintendent, Sambalpur Collector, SP and representatives of medical students.
Commenting on the VIMSAR impasse, Health Minister Pratap Jena said, “We will take necessary steps to bring the normalcy back though the district administration has already been asked to find a solution at their level.”
Students of the MKCG medical college in Berhampur also lent their support this evening to the stir being observed by the VIMSAR counterparts.
Rajesh Sahu, president of PG students’ association, SCB College, said, “By registering police complaint against students, the VIMSAR authorities have put their career at stake. We condemn the action and as a mark of protest the SCB students are wearing black badges.”
While some VIMSAR students sat on a dharna alleging they have been falsely implicated in the case of attack on director’s residence, some took out a protest march and lodged a police complaint after obscene posters were found put up in front of the women’s hostel on the campus.
Earlier in the day, a dawn-to-dusk Burla bandh was observed by locals demanding action against doctors and medical students responsible for hurling stones at the house of VIMSAR director.
Vehicular traffic was disrupted and shops shut during the 12-hour bandh.
“Though doctors are construed as second to god, hooliganism of some medical students is not acceptable,” a Burla resident said.
Another Burla resident stated the attack on the VIMSAR director shows medical students have surpassed anti-socials.
The VIMSAR director reacted, “Let’s see whether truth triumphs or false propaganda wins.”