Kottayam: The police lathicharged and blocked the march by the United Nurses Association (UNA) to the Bharath hospital in front of the Thirunakkara temple on Friday, injuring 15 nurses. The injured nurses, some of whom sustained head injuries, were admitted to the Kottayam district hospital. The UNA in their statement said that the police deliberately attacked the nurses who were striking peacefully. In protest against the attack, UNA will observe a statewide black day on Saturday.
The march was to demand the reinstatement of the 18 nurses who were fired from Bharath hospital. Nine were fired before the strike and nine more after the strike was declared. UNA president Jasmine Shah said that the 18 nurses were fired citing that the contract period was over. He alleged that the Bharath hospital management had not adhered to the norms while ousting the nurses. Earlier, P.C. George MLA who inaugurated the nurses march, said that the government should take action to close down hospitals which were not willing to give salaries fixed by the government.
