As per reports, the inquiry team has been sent as per a directive issued by Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal. The team will hold discussions with all the parties and submit a report to the health department thereafter.
It may be mentioned here that Pujahari had written to the Governor requesting him to order a probe into the allegations leveled against him.
On the other hand, the junior doctors' association (JDA) here has been staging an agitation demanding removal of the VIMSAR director. They had also submitted a memorandum with a 10-point charter of demands to the Governor and Health Minister.
"Discussion was held with the inquiry team for two hours on the memorandum and we have submitted the documentary evidence," said Dr Himanshu Mishra, vice president of the JDA.
Meanwhile, locals have come out in full support of the VIMSAR director. "Development of the hospital is because of Pujahari and the hospital has actually benefitted the people of the western Odisha," said one of his supporters.
Echoing similar views, another supporter said that an impartial probe should be carried out in the incident and there should not be any drama.
It is pertinent to mention that JDA and Pujahari are at loggerheads after the latter took a professor to task inside a classroom, a video of which had gone viral. Pujahari lambasted the professor for reaching late to classroom and taking classes of all PG students simultaneously in one class.
This apart, Pujahari's move to shave the head of an alcoholic patient at the outpatient department has also elicited sharp criticism.
Mishra said meeting of PG doctors of VIMSAR and SCB Cuttack with Jena had a positive output. JDA will let know of its future steps after their General Body meeting on Friday.
On the other hand the minister said that further talks will be held only after the students call off their stir. But he was silent if any action will be taken against the Director.
PG doctors are sitting on dharna since four days demanding ouster of VIMSAR Director Aswini Pujahari alleging autocracy. MBBS students have also joined the PG doctors in the protest.
Talking with media persons, spokesman of JDA, Jagamohan Mishra said, "The minister has promised to resolve the issue at the earliest. We will let all know about our decision after the General Body meeting."
The Health Minister said, "We want normalcy to return at VIMSAR soon, many things have been discussed but further action will be taken after the protest is called off."
Also read: New docs join VIMSAR as logjam continues
Till the last reports came in, as many as 38 doctors had already joined duty. “I have ordered them to join duty as soon as possible in their respective department. The concerned HODs will distribute them work accordingly. The government has appointed doctors to various departments,” VIMSAR principal Braja Mohan Mishra said.
On the other hand, students’ agitation on the campus is getting murkier by the day as Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) lent support to the students who have been on a dharna demanding transfer of the director and safety of girls on the campus.
"Our demands have remained unchanged. We will not withdraw the stir till our demands are met,” a student said.
OMSA president Nirakar Bhatt urged the Health Minister to resolve the issue after meeting the students.
Members of civil society in Sambalpur intensified the stir demanding strict action against erring students for hampering health service. Sambalpur Citizen Forum staged a dharna at Nelson Mandela square in the town and submitted a memorandum to SP Sanjeev Arora demanding immediate arrest of the violence perpetrators.
Justifying the action of VIMSAR director Aswini Pujahari, they condemned the activities of doctors and decided to launch a mass movement against them. People’s stir also spread to Jharsuguda and Bargarh district also.
“Nobody can harm the director. The agitation will be intensified in entire western Odisha if he is transferred,” said Prafulla Hota, member of western Odisha citizens' action committee.
Later in the day Health Minister Pratap Jena held discussion with students’ representatives and asked them to put their strike on hold before any further discussion. “I also urged them to restore normalcy in the greater interest of the patients,” Jena said.
The students raised slogans against the director while he tried to discuss the issues with them at the dharna spot on the campus. However, he failed to hold talks due to strong resistance from the striking students.
"I came to them for a discussion. But I can't meet them amid such a noisy environment. I have asked the principal to meet their delegation. If they agree, I am ready to discuss the issue," Pujahari said.
To a question whether health care is affected due to the stir, Pujahari said "The junior doctors are attending the patients. Being a physician, I will also take care of the patients at emergency and other wards. I will not let health care get hampered," he added.
The students sat on a dharna alleging that they have been falsely implicated in the case of attack on director's residence.
The controversy escalated further after some obscene posters were found put in front of the women’s hostel on the campus. The students expressed anguish over such posters which threatened the girl students of rape and murder. They lodged a complaint at hospital police outpost.
Meanwhile, PG students and house surgeons of SCB Medical College in Cuttack wore black badges as a mark of protest expressing solidarity with their VIMSAR counterparts.
On the other hand, the local residents launched a 12-hour bandh in Burla town demanding arrest of the attackers. The dawn-to dusk strike paralysed normal life as offices and commercial establishments remained shut. Vehicular communication was also disrupted. The stir was supported by various social outfits and traders associations of Sambalpur.