Noida: Police on Wednesday night detained around 50 contractual staffers of Govt Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and cleared a protest site inside the hospital premises, ending a 10-day agitation over job regularisation after hospital authorities said the demonstration was disrupting medical services.The action prompted allegations of assault and abuse by the protesters, who claimed police forcibly removed them. Officials, however, denied any lathicharge and said the intervention was necessary to restore normal hospital operations.Around 700 contractual workers — including nurses, technicians and housekeeping staff — have been sitting in protest on the hospital campus since June 15, demanding regularisation of their jobs and direct employment under GIMS instead of private agencies.Hospital authorities said the protest, especially at key points such as the main entrance and central hall, was beginning to affect patient movement and delivery of treatment. Officials said multiple rounds of talks involving the hospital management, district officials and police failed to break the deadlock.The protesters, however, rejected the claim that services were being disrupted. “From Day 1, we made it clear that emergency, ICU and NICU services would not stop. We have worked here since GIMS started. During Covid, we stood here day and night. If new vacancies are opening now, why are we not being given the first chance?” Dinesh, a staff nurse, sought to know.According to officials, protesters were on Wednesday asked to shift their sit-in to a designated area within the campus to ease movement. While some agreed, a section allegedly refused.The police action followed around 9pm. “Cops entered the premises and started forcing us out. Many staff nurses, including women, were abused and manhandled. Some were injured there itself,” a protester alleged.Police denied the allegation, saying no lathicharge took place.A senior police officer said some demonstrators became aggressive during the relocation attempt. “We repeatedly appealed to them to shift. A few complied, but some started pushing and scuffling with us. Police had to intervene and remove them,” the officer added.There were allegations that outsiders and members of some organisations joined the protest, threatened staff and attempted to damage hospital property.Based on a complaint by GIMS director Brig Rakesh Gupta (retired), police registered a case under charges of obstructing public servants from duty, causing damage to public property, disrupting essential medical services and creating a law-and-order situation.“The protest had been going on inside the hospital for days. They were asked to relocate but did not agree to do so. That is when the administration stepped in. The situation is peaceful now. We appeal to the staff to return to duty,” Gupta said.Police said they were also verifying suspected fake medico-legal case reports found on some detained persons’ phones. Hospital authorities said OPD and other services resumed normal operations after the eviction.
