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Thursday, March 30, 2023

Bid to influence patient: Police yet to nab six employees of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital

The Medical College authorities had initiated disciplinary action against the six employees based on an internal investigation report

The Medical College police are yet to track down the five employees who were recently placed under suspension by the Kozhikode Medical College Principal for their suspected attempt to influence a patient who was allegedly molested by their colleague. Another temporary worker at the MCH who was dismissed in connection with the incident is also at large.

It was on March 23 that the suspension order was issued on the basis of a report prepared by the Director of Medical Education on the instructions of Health Minister Veena George. Attenders Shyni Joseph, Asya, P.E. Shyma, and Shalooja and nursing assistant Praseetha Manoli were suspended. Deepa, a daily wage worker, was dismissed from her post.

The case was registered against the six after the survivor complained that she was offered money to settle the case and change the statements against the accused, Kuzhipparambathu Saseendran, 55, who was arrested. They reportedly approached the woman for talks wearing their official uniform. Based on the woman’s statement, the police booked the six under various non-bailable sections.

“The arrest is delayed as all of them have gone into hiding following police investigation. They are not in Kozhikode district now,” said a senior police officer heading the probe.

The woman was allegedly molested by the hospital attendant while she was being shifted to the women’s surgical ICU after undergoing thyroidectomy on March 18. The accused was nabbed by the police on March 20. It was a nurse at the ICU who helped the survivor communicate with the hospital authorities about the situation and lodge a petition with the police.

Asked to choose between MBBS & sports, Sift Kaur Samra from Punjab refused to lay down arms, wins World Cup medal

TNN | Mar 27, 2023, 09.52 AM IST

BHOPAL: First-year MBBS student Sift Kaur Samra won her first individual World Cup medal on Sunday as her family watched with pride from the gallery at the ISSF tournament in Bhopal. For the 22-year-old, the podium finish came on the back of a very tough decision – choosing between two targets, her education and her passion.

The tournament dates clashed with her first-year MBBS exams. She says she requested her college to hold the exams separately for her so that she could represent the nation but it was turned down. Asked to choose between the scalpel and her rifle, she chose the sport. “And I’ll stick to my guns till the 2024 Olympics,” she told TOI.

Samra shot her way to a bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3-position, taking India’s medal tally to seven and ensuring second place for the country.Her happiness is tinged with concern for her MBBS, though. That she cracked NEET while keeping her sights on the bullseye is exemplary, but juggling the two proved tough.
“I am not able to manage shooting with MBBS. Before coming here, I requested my college to hold separate exams for me, but they refused. They went on suggesting that I should repeat the first year,” said Samra, a student of Government GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab.

“I met a couple of ministers and other influential people to help me but to no avail,” said Samra, who is the first shooter in her family.

She said she was about to quit the sport last year. “After being selected for MBBS, I had made up my mind to give up shooting. However, a national championship was being held in Bhopal, so I told myself I’ll call it quits after the tournament. I set a national record and life changed. I realised that I should not leave shooting,” said Samra.

So what of her medical course? “I haven't thought about it. I have no idea whether my college will consider me for a separate exam. I do not know what will happen about my academics,” she said, adding in the same breath: “I have set my sights on the next Olympics. I’ll give MBBS a thought only after that.”

The Punjab girl does not like pistols. It’s rifles for her.

On Sunday, as the reigning national champion, Samra began on a strong note in the qualification of the women’s 3P with 588 points, securing the second spot after China’s Zhang Qiongyue (594). Samra displayed excellent consistency in the finals to secure a bronze after she shot 403.9 in the top-eight ranking round. Zhang defeated Aneta Brabcova of the Czech Republic 16-8 for the gold.