Patna Medical College Principal faces arrest for allegedly assaulting Dalit medico

Patna: The State Police Headquarters was recently seen ordering the arrest of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Principal, Dr Alok Sinha in the case of him allegedly attacking a Dalit medico. The orders have indeed become a matter of concern for the academic fraternity..

A November 16 incident in full public view and recorded by a video that went viral showed PMCH Principal, Dr S N Sinha having an altercation followed by a physical fight with Dr Alok Kumar the college's PG (Anaesthesia) student . The senior and junior doctors lodged complaints against each other after the incident.

Read Also : Bihar: Medico moves Human Rights panel against PMCH principal

The Bihar Police's CID IG (weaker sections) Anil Kishore Yadav is reported to have not ordered for the arrest of the principal, after conducting an investigation in this case.

"Instead of investigating the two cases together, DSP Kailash Prasad submitted separate supervision reports, whimsically declaring the accusation against the PG student true quite early while delaying the investigation against Dr Sinha," said the Inspector General at a press conference in Patna on Saturday.

Seemingly upset by the "injustice about to be meted out to a dalit", the IG referring to the investigation as "shameless", "biased", "atrocious", "mechanical" and "contrary to facts", expressed his disappointment with the supervision of Patna Police officers, including DSP (town) Kailash Prasad, City SP (central) Chandan Kushwaha and DIG (central range) Shalin in this case.

"DSP Prasad ignored the clinching evidence that the video is. Even eyewitnesses were not examined," he said, regretting the fact that DIG Shalin and SP Kushwaha had mechanically agreed with the DSP's flawed findings.

"Dr Sinha brazenly took law into his own hands and assaulted Dr Alok, and later exaggerated his case against the PG student. By virtue of his post, the principal could put pressure on the accused and witnesses and also tamper with the evidence. It is fit case against Dr Sinha under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," the IG noted in his arrest order.

Speaking about Dr Alok's behaviour throughout the verbal exchange, the IG stated that the principal's aggression did not seem criminal in nature. "Legal experts should have been consulted to analyze and opine whether or not Dr Alok's punch was an act of self defense. Under no circumstances, however, it appears to be voluntarily causing hurt to Dr Sinha. It is no graver than a crime under Section 334 IPC (voluntarily causing hurt due to provocation)," said the IG.

Dr Alok however, has already lodged complaints with the Bihar Human Rights Commission and the state's Health Department, alleging the Principal was threatening to end career, if the case against him were not withdrawn. About to retire in July 2017, Principal, Dr Sinha has been absent from the PMCH campus since Friday.

The Bihar Government's Health Department taking note of the nature of brawl has ordered a probe into the incident by the Director in Chief; who was to submit his report within a week. Two months have elapsed and the report has not seen the light of day.

Questioned about Dr Sinha a senior health officials on Saturday told the TOI "If he is arrested, he would be deemed suspended after 48 hours." The IMA, which had earlier given a clean chit to the Principal, refrained to comment on the arrest order issued against Dr Sinha.

Read Also: http://education.medicaldialogues.in/bihar-medico-moves-human-rights-panel-against-pmch-principal/

Read Also:http://education.medicaldialogues.in/patna-medical-college-strike-called-off/