Kozhikode Medical College campus turns a nightmare for medicos

KOZHIKODE: The sprawling Kozhikode Medical College campus spread over  270 acres of land is no more  safe for the hundreds of medicos and staff  in the college.   Anti-social elements have a gala time there with no compound walls, security guards or a proper and scientific security management system.

Last month, three  incidents of chain snatching, attempt of sexual harassment and threat to  girl students were reported  to the college authorities, but there has been no action.  Several protests were staged by the medicos  with no impact.

“The college  has 14 hostels, including two boys hostels, nursing hostel and 300 staff quarters located at various parts of the campus, but none of them have compound walls, making it easy for  anyone to get inside at anytime, said R. Shreerajl,   a student. More than 3000 medicos and the families of the staff  are part of the campus, including the nursing students.

The gates are always open, and there are no checkpoints. The campus lacks streetlights and security guards to prevent outsiders from coming inside the campus or a system to ensure safety, he added. Even during the day there have been incidents of eve teasing, but these are minimal.

According to  former principal of K- MCH Dr Raveendran, several attempts were made to construct compound walls for the campus, but all the attempts were stopped by the locals. Since the hospital is attached to the college and the flow of outsiders cannot be stopped, the authorities could not take any  action.

Owing to several incidents of attacks,  the police cell once submitted a detailed report on the lapses and precautions to be taken to prevent anti- socials from coming to the compound.   When contacted,  college principal P.V. Narayanan  said that meetings have  been convened to discuss  the matter. .