Ranchi: The superspecialty unit on RIMS campus, Bariatu, where RJD president and a fodder scam convict Lalu Prasad, 69, is lodged after his return from AIIMS, Delhi, on Tuesday, looked like an undeclared jail on Wednesday.
Over 50 police personnel with Insas rifles and teargas were seen at the gate of the superspecialty unit where Lalu is lodged on the second-floor cardiology department and is learnt to be doing fine.
Lalu breakfasted on apple, pomegranate and watermelon, said a kitchen staff who did not want to be identified. He had chapatti, pointed gourd curry, pumpkin fry, salad and curd for lunch. "We have been asked to provide him cow milk from Thursday," the staffer said.
A doctor, commenting on Lalu's pathological reports, said creatinine was 1.4, a little more from the normal 1. "But, there is nothing to worry about his kidneys. Sugar level is normal," he said.
Officially, RIMS director and superintendent Dr R.K. Srivastava and Dr S.K. Prasad stayed mum. "A five-member team of doctors, Dr Umesh Prasad from medicine, Dr R.G. Baxla from surgery, Dr Prakash Kumar from cardiology, Bindu Bhushan Sinha from eye and Dr Ashraf Jamal from urology have been deputed for him (Lalu). They are treating him on the lines of AIIMS," Dr Srivastava said. Police ensured unauthorised entry to the building was strictly banned.
Interested visitors of patients admitted to the superspecialty unit had to give a long interview to the police and most were disqualified. An elderly person from Bundu, Rameshwar Mahto, who came to meet his friend admitted to the superspecialty ward was refused entry on the grounds that "you don't have a pass and are not close to the person you have come to meet". A journalist from a vernacular daily was seen requesting the police in vain to permit him to meet the head of cardiology department Dr Hemant Narayan for a report.
When this reporter wanted to know why mediapersons doing non-Lalu stories were not allowed, DSP (sadar) Vikas Chandra said: "Tell me what you want to know, I will get you information but I can't allow mediapersons inside for security reasons."
Pointed out that a Lalu aide was going inside with two pillows, the DSP said: "It may be for medicinal use."
