BHU doctors call off strike, shelve anti-reservation stir

Varanasi, Dec 28 (UNI) Junior doctors at the Sir Sunderlal Hospital at the Banaras Hindu University (SSU-BHU) here, agitating against the recent lathicharge on medicos, called off their indefinite strike this evening after a meeting with Vice Chancellor (VC) Panjab Singh.

BHU Resident Doctors Association (RDA) president Sarvesh Dubey said the VC, taking strong exception of the lathicharge on medical students, assured of a probe into the matter by a retired High Court judge.

Besides, he announced that shortly a committee will be constituted to draw a roadmap for the overhaul of the varsity proctorial board, which he felt is acting harshly while dealing with students. ''The VC assured that use of force by the proctorial board on students will not be allowed to take place in future,'' Dr Dubey added.

''Following Prof Singh's assurances, we are calling off our strike with immediate effect and the anti-reservation movement on the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) has also been shelved. No strike or class boycott will take place at the IMS or the hospital which caters to the patients from East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Nepal.'' The meeting with the VC was also attended by Dr Mahesh Kante, Dr Mahendra Narayan, Dr Raja -- all junior doctors associated with the anti-reservation movement -- besides IMS acting director H S Shukla and Chief Medical Superintendent of SSU hospital Dr S C Choodamani Gopal.

Medical students peacefully protesting the 27 per cent OBC reservation in higher education were lathicharged by varsity proctorial board personnel on Monday near the VC residence, resulting in injuries to eight students. The junior doctors went on indefinite strike demanding action against the responsible security personnel, including chief proctor S K Singh.

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