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ALIGARH, INDIA – Resident doctors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JNMCH), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), have launched an indefinite strike, withdrawing all services including emergency care, following a terrifying gunfire incident inside the hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Centre on the evening of Tuesday, April 22nd.
The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) cites years of unaddressed security concerns and broken promises from university authorities as the driving force behind the strike, stating the latest incident was a dangerous culmination of ongoing negligence.
According to reports, the violence originated from a brawl between two student groups earlier in the day at a university horse show. The altercation later spilled into the JNMCH Emergency and Trauma Centre, escalating dramatically when multiple gunshots were fired near the triage area. While no medical personnel were physically harmed, the incident caused widespread panic among doctors, nurses, and patients present.
For the resident doctors, however, this was far from an isolated event. “It’s not only happening this time. It has been occurring for tens of years, and every time a GBM (General Body Meeting) is called, authorities promise security, but nothing ever happens,” stated Dr. Mohd Hazique Siddiqui, a Junior Resident in Orthopaedics who was present during the gunfire. He described the incident as a “tipping point.”
Following an emergency GBM held late on April 22nd, the RDA unanimously passed a resolution outlining five critical demands:
- Immediate replacement of the university’s Proctorial Team at the Trauma Centre with trained police or ex-military personnel.
- Installation of functional metal detectors at all sensitive entry and exit points within 48 hours.
- Swift and decisive legal action against the individuals identified in the gunfire incident.
- The resignation of the Medical Superintendent and the University Proctor for their perceived failure to ensure safety.
- Implementation of separate triaging facilities for students and university staff to mitigate potential future conflicts.
“We are the first ones in direct contact with patients,” Dr. Siddiqui emphasized, highlighting the vulnerability of medical staff. “So, what about our security? Assurances and proper measures should be taken so that we feel safe. Otherwise, we cannot work in this situation.”
Dr. Siddiqui lamented the recurring pattern where security is temporarily heightened after violent incidents, only to be relaxed shortly after. “It is only a matter of time before these changes vanish,” he said, expressing deep frustration with what doctors perceive as “false assurances.”
“This time, we will not back down until serious, long-term measures are implemented,” Dr. Siddiqui declared on behalf of the RDA. The association is demanding a concrete, official blueprint for permanent security reforms, rejecting symbolic gestures or temporary fixes.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on the striking doctors. “Gunshot is a serious issue. Fortunately, no one was injured. But what if a doctor had been hit? What would have happened then?” Dr. Siddiqui questioned. “No one knows who will be the next target.”
The indefinite strike significantly impacts healthcare services at the major medical facility, leaving the resolution dependent on the university administration’s response to the doctors’ demands for a secure working environment.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the information provided in the prompt. It reflects the perspective and demands of the Resident Doctors’ Association as presented.
