KOCHI: The attempts by the Kolenchery Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College Hospital authorities to evict the striking nurses from the hospital premises ended in violence on Friday morning. Three nurses of the general medicine ward got injured in the melee and they were admitted to the Government Hospital at Kadayiruppu. Meanwhile, Labour Minister Shibu Baby John has given the hospital management a days’ time to respond to the suggestions that were put forward at the talks held on Friday at the Government Guest House, Aluva. The incident occurred in the morning when the police tried to evict the striking nurses from the hospital premises. “Around 6 am, a few of us were sitting at the samara vedi and the police dragged us from there. After that, we entered the samara vedi when other members of the union joined us. In an attempt to deter us, the police tried to lathi charge over 100 female nurses,” said Bibin Poulose, member of All-India Nurses’ Welfare Association. Lincy Goerge, a nurse was allegedly hit with a lathi in her abdomen. Later, the CPM activists, led by P Rajeev MP, took out a protest march to the hospital in support of the striking nurses. Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti observed a hartal at Kolenchery town demanding an early settlement to the strike. Meanwhile, Indian Registered Nurses’ Association (IRNA) which is spearheading the strike at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Pynkulam, has decided to start a relay hunger strike on the hospital premises as the meeting with the Labour Minister on Friday did not yield any result. The management is not willing to increase the salary of the nurses, said Bibinish, Iddukki district president of IRNA.
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