PGIMS docs call off strike; SIT to probe suicide by MD student

Sunit Dhawan & Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, June 17

Resident doctors of the PGIMS on Monday called off their three-day-long strike after two rounds of meetings with Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Dr OP Kalra, PGIMS Director Rohtas Kanwar Yadav and other officials.

They were protesting following the suicide by Dr Omkar due to denial of leave and harassment for submission of thesis.

Sources said the first meeting began in the VC’s office around 7 pm. The doctors placed their demands, which included adequate compensation to the family of Dr Omkar, before the authorities. The meeting ended around 8.45 pm as doctors sought some time to take a final call on the strike.

The second round of meeting started at 9 pm. The authorities assured doctors of accepting their demands.

“We have written to the state government for adequate compensation to the family of Dr Omkar. The police have formed an SIT to probe the incident. The university, too, will inquire into the matter. A cell has been formed to redress grievances of MD students,” Dr Kalra said, adding that all doctors joined duty with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Dr Geeta Gathwala, the suspended Head of the Department of Paediatrics at the Rohtak PGIMS who is under fire from all quarters following the suicide of Dr Omkar, a student of MD (paediatrics) course, has asserted that she always supported Dr Omkar like her son and went all the way to help him cope with depression and legal matters.

Dr Geeta refuted the allegations of Dr Omkar having committed suicide due to denial of leave or harassment for submission of thesis. “In fact, I had gone out of the way and made a special adjustment to grant him leave from June 10 to 24 for his sister’s wedding. As far as his thesis is concerned, it had been duly approved. He just had to got it bound and submitted, the last date for which was June 30,” she said while talking to The Tribune today.

“All I can say is that it was an unfortunate happening and a personal setback for me. But a conspiracy is being hatched against me by some people of my department,” she stated.

He attempted suicide earlier too: Dr Geeta

Dr Geeta Gathwala, the suspended Head of the Department of Paediatrics, has pointed out that Dr Omkar was under depression and had attempted suicide earlier as well. Dr Omkar was also under financial distress, she claims. “I have been told that he had taken education loan and now had to arrange money for his sister’s marriage as well,” she said.