A doctor at IIT Kanpur’s Health Centre, who was suspended and booked in connection with the death of a 26-year-old research scholar, was reinstated here today after a fact finding committee gave him a clean chit in the case. Students at IIT Kanpur had boycotted classes and held a three-day long agitation after the death of Alok Pandey (26), a PhD student of Material Science Programme, on August 8.
The administration had claimed that the scholar died due to a cardiac arrest, whereas the students of the hostel and his brother Adarsh Kumar Pandey had alleged that Alok died after he was given an injection by a doctor at the centre without conducting any tests. A fact finding committee consisting of three doctors and two students from the college was formed to probe the case.
The report submitted to the IIT administration today, has given a clean chit to the suspended Dr Shailendra Kishore, saying he was not careless while administering an injection to the scholar, a statement released by the institute said. On Aug 8, Alok had complained of severe chest and neck pain after which he was rushed to the institute’s health centre. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to a cardiology centre. However, he died on way to hospital.
An FIR was also registered under IPC Section 304 A (causing death by rash or negligent act) against Dr Kishore, the Warden In-charge, Guide Kamal Kekar and the hospital administrator, Kanpur SSP Shalabh Mathur had said. According to some sources in IIT, action may be taken against the students who boycotted classes after the scholar’s death.
Now, the five-member committee, led by Prof KL Chopra, a former director of IIT-Kharagpur, is investigated the reasons behind the students’ agitation.