Monday, May 15 2006 12:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Medical students, doctors and consultants will assemble at Azad Maidan here this afternoon and proceed towards the state secretariat to submit a memorandum demanding judicial probe into Saturday's police action on medical students agitating against reservation.

The Mumbai chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Association of Medical consultants, medical students and Medical Association will assemble at 12.30 pm to show solidarity and protest against 'police excesses' on the students, who were peacefully agitating against the Union HRD Ministry's proposed reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions.

IMA yesterday (May 14, 2006) demanded judicial probe within 48 hours and said it would approach the National Human Rights Commission on the issue of police excesses on medicos.

"The Government should order a judicial probe within 48 hours. We will be approaching the National Human Rights Commission also," IMA, Mumbai Chapter President Dr Sunita Kshirsagar told sources.

Acknowledging that excessive force was used by police against striking medicos, Maharashtra government had ordered an inquiry into the cane-charge on agitating students outside Raj Bhawan on Saturday.

Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy was asked by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh yesterday to conduct the probe and submit a report within a week.

"From the visuals we have seen on TV screens, it looks like excessive force was used against the agitating students," the Chief Minister said.

Kshirsagar demanded that the Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy step down from his post within 24 hours and sought action against police officals who ordered the cane-charge.

"If the Government fails to respond to our demands within 48 hours then we would hold a medical bandh in Mumbai," Kshirsagar warned.

Meanwhile, doctors told sources that the assembly which was scheduled for 2 pm today has been preponed as the police wanted them to vacate the premises by 2.30 pm to accommodate the pro-reservation group of medicos and others supported by the political party Republican Party of India (Athawale) which is scheduled to assemble at 4 p m.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) spokesperson Srikant Pandit told sources that the association will support the agitation by doctors against the cane-charge but will not be 'physically' joining the agitation.

"We will be wearing black badges to express our solidarity against the excess of the police on Saturday," Pandit said.