Another Bihar story, minister thrashes ward attendant

AUG 26: Revolver in one hand, belt in the other, Bihar Minister for Higher Education, Ram Das Rai beat up a ward attendant in the corridor...

AUG 26: Revolver in one hand, belt in the other, Bihar Minister for Higher Education, Ram Das Rai beat up a ward attendant in the corridors of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). The ward attendant, Umesh Rai, had tried to stop the minister because he was visiting after emergency hours.

Minister Rai had dropped in at the hospital to visit a friend, his security guards in tow, Umesh Rai, the attendant who was stationed at the entrance of the ward, objected to the number of people flooding the ward.

When the minister questioned the temerity of the attendant in questioning him, he fled for his life. But the minister and security guard chased him and beat him to pulp in the presence of the hospital suprintendent, Dr D.K. Raman.

Story continues below this ad

The minister later summoned the superintendent and asked him to “keep away these anti-socials” from the hospital. “What I have done is an attempt to teach these anti-social elements a lesson,” bragged the minister. Ram Das Rai also told the superintendent to behave properly, or else he too would face similar treatment. “I have even thrashed your predecessor Ashok Kumar Paswan,” he reminded him.

Raman, however, has gone ahead and lodged a complaint with the state government.

In protest against Friday’s incident, the employees of PMCH went on a lighting strike. Doctors too struck work in support.