12/11/2021
Ashok Pal was final year MBBS student in our college Shri Vasantrao Naik Govt. Medical College. Yesterday at 8 pm he was on his way to the boys hostel from the library when he was brutally murdered by unknown men. He was stabbed twice in the chest and abdomen. After an ambulance driver identified him as a student of our college he was brought to the emergency room were he succumbed to his injuries.
The incident happend at around 8 but the first police officer didnt arrive till 9.45. While collecting samples from the scene basic rules of sample collection were not followed and they were cheerfully laughing about it among themselves. After all this when the students gathered to ask for better investigation and involvement of collector we were told that such small matters are not worth his attention. A medical student murdered at 8 pm in the center of his own college campus where he was supposed to be safe and the safety and security of around 1000 other medical students at risk is a small matter for the authorities. This outraged us students so we all joined hands and decided to peacefully protest so that the loss of our friends life will not be in vain.
At 1 o clock , 5 hours after the incident , no FIR had been registered. When the students asked the Dean to lodge an FIR on behalf of the college , his response was " main kyun karu , tum karo, tumhara friend tha na vo". Yes exactly , why should the DEAN (DR.MILIND KAMBLE) of the college , the guardian of all the students, the person incharge of the safety and education of the students , why should he lodge an FIR? Its not like he was responsible for Ashok in any way. Thats the attitude of the highest authority of this government college. In an environment like this, where no one takes the death of a student seriously, how are we supposed to get justice?
The FIR was finally filed in the morning by Dr Bhoyar. What a quick response by the college to the murder of their own student in their own campus!!
The strike of students and residents began in the morning. This strike forced a lot of people to pay attention who were trying to ignore this incident. Local politician Mr. Santosh Dhavale tried to end this strike by trying to intimidate the students by saying " ye strike band karo, gate kholo varna main apne gundo ko bulauga". He made this threat infront of the SP , the Collector and the Dean and still no one said anything and no action was taken against him. The people who are supposed to protect us are threatening us in broad daylight then where are we supposed to go? Where can we get safety and security? How many of us have to die before this vicious cycle comes to a stop?
After making a lot of false promises and giving us half hearted assurance, the SP , Collector and Dean left and showed no signs of return. None of them showed up to show support for the ceremonial held in the evening when Ashok's family tearfully took back their childs body back to their hometown. A young boy who came in this college with many dreams and with the hopes of his family on his shoulders , left in the ambulance with his body cold and his family members in a state of shock and tears and sorrow.
This would not be the first tragedy for his family to face. Ashok's father was a auto driver and his mother a simple housewife. He lost his fater 10 years ago to brain hemorrhage. The family situation was very tough, still Ashok managed to get MBBS seat in a Govt Medical College, a true accomplishment for him. He was the ray of hope for his family. He dreamed of making a better life for his mother and his two younger siblings. Unfortunately this dream was cut short at the hands of a cold blooded man who is still not caught and roams freely. The mountain of pain and sorrow his family is going through right now is something none of us can imagine. As his mama said " tumko nahi pata kaise bada kiya tha humne usko , humari ek hi galti hue ki humne usey padhne yavatmal bheja"
Ashok Pal , a true friend to his batchmates, an adorable junior for his senior and an inspiration for his juniors, lost his life due to the negligence of the dean and college authorities.
