Cops lathicharge CSMMU interns

The police allegedly lathicharged around 60 interns of the Chhatraparti Shahuji Maharaj Medical University...

The police allegedly lathicharged around 60 interns of the Chhatraparti Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) on Tuesday while they were staging a dharna outside the vice-chancellors office,demanding an increase in their stipend and reduction of annual fee.

The dharna began around 10.15 am. In the afternoon,university officials told the interns that among them,there were a few outsiders who should immediately leave the premises.

When the interns refused to pay heed to the demands,the university administration called in the police,who detained a few of the agitators. While the interns claimed they were lathicharged on the instructions of the administration,the university maintained that the police were called in to merely disperse the outsiders.

Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey,who participated in the demonstration,said: We were lathicharged and taken into police custody. We will continue with the protest till the demands are met. He added that a few interns sustained severe injuries in the lathicharge.

After the interns were released from police custody,a few among them returned to the campus and staged a dharna in the evening.

University Proctor Abbas Mahdi said: We have no objection if our interns sit on a dharna. We only objected to the outsiders sitting among them. As far as increase of their stipend is concerned,it is under the consideration of the state government.

The interns are demanding an increase in their stipend up to Rs 8,900 per month,in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission. At present,their monthly stipend is Rs 1,900.

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