‘We condemn the attempts by outsiders and miscreants to destroy the sanctity and prestige of our beloved college. The message should go out loud and clear, that we strongly condemn the attempts to destroy peace and tranquillity, condemn the attempts to vilify doctors, attempts to destabilize SMCH and attempts to compromise the safety and security of the institutions’. These sentiments were echoed in a joint press release by the Teachers’ Association, SMCH, Junior Doctors’ Association, SMCH and Student Union, SMCH against the ruckus created by some outside elements in the Silchar Medical College & Hospital on Tuesday.

On 2nd February (Tuesday) a group of outsider had entered the college campus and had tried to gatecrash into the administrative block which houses the offices of Principal, Vice-Principal and Superintendent. When they encountered resistance from the security guard, they assaulted a guard of SMCH and also engaged in an altercation with students. Insinuations and abuse were being freely poured by the outsiders.

Faculty members, students and junior doctors of Silchar Medical College & Hospital staged a solidarity Assembly in front of the administrative building on Wednesday noon in protest against the incident.

The release states that peace and tranquillity were disturbed. Students had witnessed the most unpleasant development. Had police and security forces not arrived in time, there was every possibility of things flaring up.

Since quite a time Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMC&H) has been witnessing certain unhealthy trends within the campus. Ther’s enough reason to feel concerned about the future of this institution. Security and safety of educational institutional campus are of paramount importance. Any educational institution is akin to a holy place where the sacred act of learning takes place. The safety and security of students, staff and workers of any institution are undoubted of prime importance. A healthy atmosphere of learning and training can prevail only when there’s a sense of security and safety.

The associations welcomed the steps taken by the college authorities in the immediate aftermath of the incident. ‘The solidarity assembly along with the wearing of the black badge was to display our unity and resolve. Our assembly was to show our solidarity with the greater cause of SMCH, solidarity amongst ourselves and solidarity with our college administrative authorities”, said the associations.