At least 12 persons, who were staging a demonstration in support of Dr Govinda KC—a surgeon on hunger strike demanding reforms in the medical sector—were briefly arrested from Baluwatar on Tuesday.

Four doctors and eight students were rounded up by police when they tried to enter the prohibited zone near the prime minister’s official residence. DSP Lokendra Shrestha, chief of the Metropolitan Police Circle, Kamalpokhari, said, “We had to arrest them because they tried to break the barricades and protest in the prohibited area,” said DSP Shrestha. “They were released later in the evening.” Doctors and students had taken out a rally from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital to Baluwatar to protest against government’s apathy towards Dr KC’s demands.

Badri Aryal, a fourth year MBBS student at the Institute of Medicine, said, “We will stage demonstrations in Baluwatar again. The government cannot remain silent on issues put forth by Dr KC.”

Dr KC has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 days demanding reforms in the medical education sector, implementation of the past agreements  and impeachment of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority chief Lok Man Singh Karki.

‘Doc’s health fast deteriorating’

KATHMANDU: Doctors attending Dr Govinda KC said on Tuesday that the fasting surgeon’s health condition is fast deteriorating. “There has been fluctuation in Dr KC’s blood pressure and he is having chest pain and muscle cramps,” said Dr Dibya Singh, a member of the medical team attending to Dr KC. “He might need critical care anytime,” Dr Singh added. (PR)