KOTTAYAM: The functioning of the Kottayam Medical College came to a halt when the doctors and PG students went on a 24-hour strike to protest against the arrest of P.Asokan, assistant professor, orthopaedics, and former superintendent of the hospital, on corruption charges. Contrary to their earlier claim, the agitating doctors boycotted the Out Patient Department till 10 am.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) held on the Medical college premises resolved to intensify the struggle from Thursday unless the Government rescind the arrest and set the doctor free from police custody. "We will bring the health sector to a standstill," said the KGMCTA leaders at a press conference.

They maintained that the authorities while arresting Dr. Asokan, had not fulfilled the guidelines delineated by the Supreme Court for such occasions and alleged that the doctors were being made scapegoats for political ends without providing necessary facilities at the Medical College Hospitals. They reiterated that all possible medical help was extended to the youth who had succumbed to his injuries after a bike accident on Tuesday. The youth had died of serious head injuries, they said.

The doctor was taken to the Vigilance court, Thrissur, from here on Thursday morning.

Ashokan remanded

Staff Reporter adds from Thrissur: Vigilance judge P.Q. Barqat Ali on Wednesday remanded P. Ashokan, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics with the Kottayam Government Medical College, to judicial custody. Dr. Ashokan's bail application will be taken up for hearing on January 8. He fainted in the Vigilance Court and was later admitted to the Government Medical College at Mulankunnathukavu.

Dr. Ashokan was taken into police custody on Monday night and charged under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the death of a patient, Majo Joseph, 23, on Monday.

Majo's relatives alleged that the doctor had demanded money to examine the patient. Doctors with the Government Medical College at Mulankunnathukavu went on a strike between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The casualty functioned and emergency services were not affected.

The Association alleged that false cases were being foisted on doctors. "Doctors are being arrested by the police without investigating the cases," the Association said.

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