By Nayak Paudel
Kathmandu, Sept. 24: Several associations and citizens across the country have condemned the behaviour of Nepal Police against Dr. Govinda KC at the National Trauma Centre and have demanded that the government should fulfil the demands put forth by him.
Dr. KC was taken to Trauma Centre against his will on Tuesday night.
After retiring as the senior orthopaedic surgeon from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in October last year, Dr. KC has been providing free treatment by visiting rural areas of western Nepal for the past seven months.
On September 14, Dr. KC started staging his 19th hunger strike at a temple in Chandannath Municipality, Jumla district, by putting forth a six-point demand.
His demands include introducing Bachelor level medical courses in Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences and Geta Medical College.
Likewise, Dr. KC has demanded implementation of the earlier agreements reached between him and the government and an amendment to the Medical Education Act.
One of the demands also includes appointment of Dean at Institute of Medicine (IOM) in a fair and transparent way by prioritising seniority.
Dr. KC had begun his hunger strike in 2012 citing political influence in the appointment of dean in the IOM.
Dr. KC has also demanded proper investigation into the several corruption scandals involving the high-level individuals.
With his health deteriorating, Dr. KC was transferred to Karnali Academy of Health Sciences against his will by Nepal Police on September 19.
But Dr. KC denied receiving any treatment there while authorities were planning to take Dr. KC to Kathmandu.
Unwilling to let the authorities perform similar activities in the hospital which was carried out by law enforcement agencies two years ago during his 15th hunger strike, Dr. KC agreed to leave for Kathmandu stating he would continue his fast-unto-death from the TUTH.
Two years ago, a clash between police and locals and health personnel had erupted in KAHS leading to physical damages to the health facility when the latter tried to save Dr. KC from being forcefully airlifted to Kathmandu.
However, upon arriving in Kathmandu, Dr. KC was again forcefully taken to National Trauma Centre rather than TUTH on Tuesday. When Dr. KC denied leaving the ambulance, police personnel grabbed him out against his will.
The videos showing police forcefully pulling Dr. KC out of ambulance became viral in social media prompting the opposition leaders and commoners to condemn the acts.
Nepal Police’s social media handles started receiving numerous condemns and criticisms from netizens throughout the country immediately after the videos went viral.
Later, the Metropolitan Police Office in Ranipokhari tweeted that police was helping Dr. KC to reach National Trauma Centre following his health situation and consultation with doctors. The videos, however, showed clearly how the police personnel had helped Dr. KC.
Couple hours later, Dr. KC got discharged and went to TUTH and announced he was continuing his hunger strike.
Wednesday marks 10th day of Dr. KC’s 19th hunger strike.
Issuing a press-statement on Tuesday after the incident in the trauma centre, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) stated that the security personnel’s forceful transportation of Dr. KC against his right in a democratic nation has saddened them.
Similarly, Kathmandu University Professors’ Association (KUPA) has also expressed solidarity with Dr KC and condemned the force used against an individual staging hunger strike for the betterment of country.
“Dr KC has been forced to stage hunger strikes time and again in his early 60s since the government did not implement the earlier agreements. Still, such individual faces unnatural, non-human and forceful behaviour.
We condemn this act,” reads the statement issued by Dr Badri Rijal, general secretary of the NMA.
The associations also demand the government should fulfil the demands of Dr. KC and save his life.