Nine students of MKCG medical college and hospital in Berhampur of Odisha were arrested by police on charges of assault on commoners, police and newsmen.
Six undergraduate students were arrested and presented to court on Tuesday night, while three post-graduate students were arrested on Wednesday morning. They could not get bail on Wednesday.
They were arrested in connection with the incident that happened on January 29 late night. The students were arrested under sections 147, 148, 149, 294, 323, 506, 429 of IPC and the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act.
Four cases lodged
Four cases had been lodged against them in the Baidyanathpur police station by a journalist, an auto-rickshaw driver, one relative of a patient and the police who were allegedly assaulted by these students. The SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act was used against them as one of the complainants is from a scheduled caste community.
Speaking to The Hindu regarding the arrests, Inspector General of Police, southern range Amitabh Thakur said: “All are equal before law and the police will not hesitate to take legal action against any person who breaks it to disrupt peace and harmony.”
Following the arrest, the medical college students demonstrated in front of the Baidyanathpur police station on Tuesday night. But no untoward incident was reported. The police kept a close watch on the situation on the college campus and security was provided to the principal and his residence.
On January 29 night, an altercation between the brother of woman who had delivered a child in the medical college hospital that evening and a PG student had sparked off the unruly scene.
According to the police, the arrested students and others had attacked and beat the person. When the police personnel on patrol intervened, they too were beaten by the students. Three newsmen, who had reached the spot after getting a call from a medical student, were also assaulted. One of them was injured.
An auto-rickshaw driver, who had brought a patient to the hospital, was also attacked.
