Ranchi, Feb. 27: An arrest warrant against the 25 suspended students, interns and junior doctors of RIMS, who have been accused of the February 4 assault on campus, besides routine trouble-mongering, is likely to be issued in a day or two, provided the state government doesn't interfere with police proceedings.

While the RIMS administration has given its "hooligan" students a long rope by tacitly asking them to return to hostels after Holi when classes resume, Bariatu police - investigating the violence against a section of MBBS boys at the premier medical college - has decided to let the law take its own course.

DSP Satwir Singh, the investigating officer in the case, told The Telegraph that by tomorrow or Sunday, the warrant would be out. "And, we will put in our best efforts to arrest the rogues until and unless the government orders us not to do so," he kept a rider.

Not mincing words like several faculty members at RIMS, the DSP said that he perceived the institute administration as a "bigger culprit" than those named in the assault FIR.

"The health department should take stringent action against them (RIMS officials). They have always tried to cover up incidents (like ragging and violence). In fact, the recent stalemate too has been handled superficially. Worse, they did not co-operate with police to fix the mess," Singh said.

The DSP said that once the arrest warrant was issued, the 25 accused should surrender at the police station to avoid further trouble. "It won't be a pretty scene if we are compelled to round up students from hostels, corridors or classrooms of RIMS. The administration, which is in touch with these people, must ask them to surrender," he added.

Joint health secretary B.K. Mishra denied the state government had swept the RIMS imbroglio under the carpet. "We are worried too. The state of affairs at RIMS is far from satisfactory. While some advisory board members are eagerly waiting to retire, others are staying away from administrative matters, citing dictatorship at the institute. So, it is a worrying situation," Mishra said.

So, when would acting RIMS director Dr S.K. Choudhary, who has been in the eye of the storm for his leniency towards the culprits, be relieved of his duties, the joint secretary maintained: "The matter is under process."

And, what happened to the inquiry committee that health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi had promised to float last week? "A committee will certainly be constituted because an inquiry is must in this case," said Mishra.

The veteran bureaucrat, who retires tomorrow, had a parting shot. "Personally, I will be happy if police do their work. Students whose names have repeatedly surfaced for creating trouble on campus and those who have been named in an assault FIR must be removed."

The state-run medical college has made headlines since February 1, when two MBBS students were made to do sit-ups by their seniors. The situation spiralled out of control after a complaint lodged with the National Anti-ragging Cell triggered retribution on February 4.

The same day, an FIR was lodged against the 25 bullies involved in the attack and they were suspended on February 6. A freeze on classes was announced simultaneously. After a series of meetings, senior health department bosses on Wednesday decided to resume classes after Holi and, in the meantime, effect a change of guard at RIMS.