Bandh in support of ‘tainted’ Vimsar head hits life in Burla

SAMBALPUR: Life was hit in Burla on Monday due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Sachetan Nagarika Manch — a social organization — to protest the government’s action against Aswini Pujahari, the director of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar).

Government and private offices, shops and business establishments, banks and financial institutions remained closed due to the bandh. The bandh supporters were seen picketing at several places in Burla.

Vehicular movement was also affected and even autorickshaws stayed off the road. Many people, who were unaware of the bandh, had to face severe inconvenience.

The government had issued a showcause notice to Pujahari and sent him on leave on November 7 after an inquiry committee — which had conducted a probe into allegations against him by Vimsar’s Junior Doctor Association (JDA) — confronted him with a video showing his team using table salt on the body of a patient during a surgery.

The JDA had also sought the removal of Pujahari for alleged indulgence in unlawful activities such as conducting unproven experimental surgeries on the poor and the destitute without their consent.

The Sachetan Nagarika Manch, however, termed the decision of the government unjustified and undemocratic.

“The government issued a showcause notice to Pujahari but didn’t wait for his reply. Then, it sent him on leave. This is undemocratic. Since the government issued the showcause notice, it should have waited for his reply. We want the government to reinstate Pujahari,” said a member of the Manch, Laxmidhar Mohanty.

“The government initiated action against Pujahari based on the video that showed him pouring salt on the body of a patient during surgery. We want the government to send the video to the Medical Council of India to seek its opinion. This apart, the video’s authenticity should be verified,” he said.

Members of BJP also staged a road blockade at Ainthapali Chowk in Sambalpur and blocked the movement of vehicles on NH-6, as well as the Biju Expressway, for two hours on Monday to protest the government’s action against Pujahari. They also sought the reinstatement of Pujahari as Vimsar director.