Doctors, medical students, beat up scribes in Agartala

At least eight mediapersons were seriously injured Friday when junior doctors and medical students beat them up at a Tripura government medical college and hospital here.

"Some medical students and junior doctors attacked the annoyed relatives of a dead patient at the government-run Gobinda Ballav Pant Medical College and Hospital.

When the journalists tried to take pictures of the incidents, medical students and junior doctors assaulted them," Ramakanta Dey, a senior photo-journalist, told reporters.

Dey, who also seriously injured and being in a hospital, said: "Medical students armed with sticks rushed to the spot from their hostels. At least eight journalists were seriously injured. Their cameras and two-wheelers were damaged by the students."

Leaders of journalist's organisations met Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty and demanded stern action against the medical students and junior doctors.

The Agartala Press Club and various media groups have condemned the incident and have demanded a probe into the incident.

"We would conduct a high-level inquiry into the incident and take appropriate steps," Chakraborty told a delegation of journalists.

Security forces have been deployed in the area.