Kerala nurses caned in Mumbai

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The 250-odd agitating nurses of Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai, were allegedly cane-charged by police on Friday.

The nurses went on a strike after a colleague; Beena Baby, allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday.

They are protesting a 2-year bond that allows the hospital to retain their original certificates. The certificates are released only after the bond expires or after a payment of `50,000.

The protest had some effect as the officials agreed late in the evening to return the certificates, provided the nurses vacate hospital rooms within 24 hours. “We are all from Kerala.

How can we vacate our rooms so soon? We did not take the certificates,” said a staff nurse.

Sabu Chakkaith, president of Bandra Malayali Samaj offering support to the nursing community, said, “We witnessed a lathi-charge at around 11 a.m. and stopped it, but three nurses were hurt.

Police denied the claim. Senior police inspector of Bandra-Kurla Complex Police Station said, “There was no lathi-charge. We only moved them away from the hospital gate as they were preventing entry of patients.”

The three injured nurses have been admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital.

“Our demands are genuine. We want our original certificates and experience certificates without conditions.

However, the hospital does not want to listen to our demands,” said a striking, Jesse.
“The hospital refuses experience certificates to nurses in case of termination.

This is unlawful. We are planning to move court,” said Abraham Mathai, general secretary, All India Christian Council.