The broken glass door and chairs outside the office of RIMS director. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Oct. 11: Tension gripped the campus of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) today when over 50 undergraduate students barged into the chamber of the institute director for redressal of their “academic grievances” without notice.

Sources said around 12 noon the students entered the office of director N.N. Aggarwal to discuss their academic problems, including regularisation of session and improvement of teaching standards, apart from several others.

Barring a few security guards and office staff, no one was present at that time when the students entered the director’s chamber.

An eyewitness said when the security personnel tried to stop the students they assaulted the guards and broke the glass door outside the director’s chamber.

The students entered the director’s chamber and had a dialogue for more than two hours.

As the students went inside the chamber, rumours flew thick and fast throughout the city.

Receiving information, Bariatu police rushed to the spot to control the mob but had to return when the students did not allow them to interfere.

They asked the police officials to stay away from their institute, as they were students, not criminals.

Students discussed their problem in the presence of their teachers and returned peacefully after getting positive assurances from their director.

After the meeting, the director of the medical institute informed the media that over 20 students, who could not clear their MBBS examination last year, had come demanding centralised evaluation and proper facility of supplementary examinations with other undergraduate students.

“They were also demanding special examination for the students who were unable to clear the previous years’ examination despite appearing in supplementary examination. The students were also worried about institute affiliation and admit cards for MBBS examination, that are slated to begin from tomorrow, for which we have already made out arrangement,” the director said.

“While our MBBS examination is scheduled to be held from tomorrow, we have not been provided with admit card till date. When we contacted the university authority, they did not entertain us saying that they had not yet got the affiliation fee from RIMS for this year. Even our institute is not following MCI guideline,” said a student.