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Amritsar police are yet to make any arrest in the case pertaining to the death of an intern, allegedly by suicide, at the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC)-run Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Science and Research. The family of the deceased doctor has alleged that she did not die by suicide but was murdered. They gathered at the police station in Maqboolpura to seek action against the accused on Saturday.
Dr Pamposh, 26, who was pursuing her internship at the institute, was found dead in her hostel room on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. The police booked 10 persons, including two professors and four students, on charges of abetment to suicide and under provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother Kamlesh Rani, a resident of Rama Mandi, Jalandhar. The family has alleged that the accused threatened the woman saying they would never let her become a doctor and abused her over her caste.
“She didn’t commit suicide. She was murdered. How can she reach the fan, located at such a height, to hang herself? She was murdered. The charge of murder should be added in the FIR. It was made to look like a suicide,” said Tarsem Chand, the doctor’s maternal grandfather.
“We met the police today. They have sought three days to arrest the culprits. We have also demanded that the police book the higher authorities at the institution. We are hopeful that the police will take timely action,” Chand said.
Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for the police said, “It is a sensitive matter. An investigation is going on. Arrests will be made according to the outcome of the probe.”
The accused include Dr Pratibha, Dr Bir Davinder Singh, Dr Manjit Singh Uppal, professor Sawati, Gagandeep Kaur, Dr Prabhhimmat, Priyanka, Karanbir Singh, Dr Piyush and Jimmy.
Meanwhile, authorities at the institute continue to remain tight-lipped over the suicide. An official at the institute, who did not wish to be identified, said, “We have been asked to not make any statement while the investigation is going on. We are open to investigation. We have provided CCTV footage and other related records to the police. We are hopeful that the truth will come out.”
On allegations of caste discrimination, he said, “Around 40 per cent of our students are from SC/ST communities. We have asked the police to ask any student if they have faced any such problem. The police are investigating. We should wait for the final report.”
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