Malda: Allegations of a prevailing “threat culture” have rocked Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) after an on-duty intern was allegedly assaulted by two fellow interns — a male and a female — both said to be linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The Incident
The altercation took place on Friday, reportedly captured on CCTV cameras. According to protesting interns, the accused duo had been intimidating students and interns on multiple occasions, but no action was taken until the assault.
The male intern, identified as Shil, denied the charges, claiming he was attacked first and acted in self-defence.
Student Protest
In solidarity with the assaulted intern, MBBS students and junior doctors staged a sit-in and confined Principal Prathapratim Mukherjee in his office for nearly 20 hours. The standoff ended only after Mukherjee agreed to set up an enquiry committee to probe the incident.
“Both sides have filed complaints via e-mail. A committee will examine CCTV footage, collect information, and submit a report,” Mukherjee confirmed.
Voices from Campus
- Soumyadip Kanji, one of the protesting interns, told The Telegraph:
“This is another instance of threat culture in state-run medical colleges. The duo have repeatedly threatened interns and students. We even have CCTV footage showing them assaulting the on-duty intern.” - A third-year MBBS student alleged:
“Authorities seem to be indirectly supporting them. As we protested, they threatened us. Unless punished, their highhandedness will continue.”
Meanwhile, Shil refuted the allegations again, stating:
“I did not hit anyone. I was attacked and defended myself. Later, they heckled me and confined me in the principal’s office for 16 hours.”
What’s Next
The newly formed enquiry committee will review the CCTV footage and testimonies before submitting its findings. The protest has also reignited concerns over political influence and campus safety in Bengal’s government medical colleges.
