Key Takeaways
- The protest in NIT Agartala is seeking criminal action against the on-duty doctor and Director for inadequate health infrastructure and negligence in the campus clinic.
- The students are demanding a high-level inquiry into the health care facilities in NIT and adequate compensation for the victim’s family.
- The protest is a result of the death of Abhijeet Panda, a 2nd-semester student of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), due to negligence in the campus clinic.
Agartala: Ongoing protest at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala has been continuing on Friday, the 3rd day seeking criminal action against the on-duty doctor of the campus clinic, and the Director for not providing adequate health infrastructure and basic amenities in the institute.
The student launched a protest on Wednesday night following the death of a 2nd-semester student of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) allegedly due to negligence in treatment in the campus clinic and delayed response from the NIT authority.
According to the report, the victim Abhijeet Panda hailed from Hyderabad had been suffering from fever and joint pain for the last few days and attended the NIT clinic but didn’t get proper treatment. When he was serious, NIT doctors only sprayed pain relief and advised him to take Paracetamol tablets and continue drinking Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), the agitating students alleged.
Finally, his friends took him to Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC) but the NIT authority allegedly didn’t provide an ambulance or any other support to the ailing Abhijeet despite repeated requests. They alleged NIT authority didn’t even follow up with the AGMC authority about the diagnosis and treatment of Abhijeet.
“The students alleged that they did not receive proper medication at the Outpatient Department (OPD) at AGMC. Abhijeet’s family started the return journey to Hyderabad, but he died on the way. The students believe that the callousness of the doctors in AGMC, irresponsible acts of NIT authority, and poor infrastructure in NIT are the causes of the death.
To manage the situation, local MLA and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday visited NIT and discussed with authorities to defuse the tension but were not successful. The students alleged that NIT Agartala officials are trying to cover up the negligence and protect the doctors and poor health facilities at NIT.
The students have also launched a digital campaign on social media with a call – “let’s come together to demand justice and accountability”. Besides seeking criminal action against the doctors and high-level inquiry into the health care facilities in NIT, the students demanded adequate compensation for the victim’s family.
