DIBRUGARH, May 11 � Even as Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured the agitating medical students and doctors of Assam Medical College and Hospital here on Sunday to look into their demands like CBI enquiry, proper security, CCTV surveillance and suspension of the principal, superintendent and head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department in the aftermath of the killing of a woman doctor on Friday morning, the Assam Medical College Students Union refused to call off their strike, stating that they would not give up for mere assurances.
AMCSU general secretary Animesh Debnath said that they want to see their demands being fulfilled practically. �We want the government to be practical. Just assurance is not enough,� he said. Debnath reiterated that they would continue with their agitation. Members of the AMCSU wore black badges and staged demonstration with a portrait of Dr Sarita Tasniwal, the PG student who was killed allegedly by a wardboy.
The Health Minister while taking stock of the situation met the agitating medical students and doctors and listened to their grievances. The students also submitted a memorandum to him. After receiving the memorandum, Sarma told mediapersons that he would examine each of the demands and give his statement over the AMCSU demands by 4 pm on Tuesday.
On the whereabouts of Dr AN Adhikari, the principal of the AMCH, Sarma said that he is unable to trace him. �I have been trying to contact him since the last three days, but his mobile phone seems to be switched off,� he said.
Meanwhile, the ongoing agitation by the medical students has hit normal functioning of the AMCH, putting patients and their attendants in a quandary. There is a general public opinion here that the junior doctors at the AMCH should call off their ceasework, as the patients are facing the heat of the strike for no fault of theirs.
