Medical College student takes ill, hunger strike continues

KOLKATA: A third-year student of the

Calcutta Medical College

fell ill and had to be admitted to Medical College Hospital on Saturday afternoon even as eight students continued their indefinite

hunger strike

demanding hostel berths for second, third and final year students.


Third-year student

Apan Samanta

had to be moved to the hospital after his condition deteriorated around 3pm on Saturday. The condition of another third-year student - Soumyajit Ray - was also serious. He, however, continued his protest. The strike began on July 10.

Members of the medical board that was formed to observe the health of the agitating students examined Ray on Saturday morning. "At least two more students - Debashish Barman and Kallol Karjee - have not been feeling well and may have to be hospitalized soon. The protest won't be withdrawn till the authorities agree to meet our demands," said third-year student Suman Mandal.

On Friday, Calcutta Medical College principal

Ujjal Kumar Bhadra

had met the students. He said their demands were non-negotiable. "We walked out of the meeting since he rejected our demands. We want hostel accommodation for all students who need it. At present, there is just one hostel for male students and that, too, is in bad shape. Even on Friday night, chunks of concrete came off the top-floor ceiling. No repairs have been done for years," Mandal said.

The Medical College authorities said discussions could resume if the students agreed.