Two AMRI hospital employees arrested for attacking journalists
14 Dec 2011
Two staff members of the Advanced Medicare and Research Institute (AMRI), Kolkata, who had allegedly beaten up journalists covering the visit of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to the hospital, were arrested by the police.
Ninety-three persons, including many patients, were killed last Friday at the hospital following a devastating fire. The management of the hospital has been accused of delaying reporting to the fire brigade and the police to suppress their negligence, which allegedly led to the disaster.
On Tuesday, Banerjee made a surprise visit to the AMRI hospital, where sections of the employees demonstrated, protesting against the cancellation of the hospital's licence. The chief minister said ensuring jobs for the workers was the responsibility of the management.
After she left, some of the staff members attacked journalists, accusing them of showing the hospital in bad light. The police arrested two of them – Tapan Naskar and D N Roy – for manhandling the media representatives.
Banerjee also gave medals and Rs5,000 each to 65 youngsters living in a near-by slum for having rushed to the rescue of the patients in the hospital. She also promised them jobs in the 'green police' unit, which comprises volunteers who help Kolkata police in managing traffic.
The chief minister also said she was looking for a judge to head the judicial commission that she had announced would probe the fire.
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