JSP MP ‘attacks professor at medical college in Andhra’

KAKINADA/VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking incident, Jana Sena Party MP Pantham Nanaji and his supporters allegedly attacked Prof Uma Maheswara Rao, vice-chairman (sports) of Rangaraya Medical College, on Saturday evening.

The Kakinada Rural MP had sought permission to use the medical college premises for a volleyball match, but the necessary permission is pending. On receiving a complaint from his supporters about the delay, Nanaji “forcefully” entered the college premises and “manhandled” Prof Rao. The MP allegedly attacked Prof Rao by snatching his mask and his supporters also joined him.

The Rangaraya Medical College administration condemned the incident and filed a complaint against Nanaji and others in the district court. However, the police have not registered a case yet.

In the complaint, Dr Vishnuvardhan, Principal and Vice-Principal of Rangaraya Medical College, said that Prof Rao, head of the Department of Forensic Medicine, was verbally abused by the MP and physically attacked by his supporters. The incident occurred when Prof Rao tried to stop betting activities related to volleyball and badminton matches involving outsiders on the college premises.

Nanaji expresses regret over the incident

Presenting video evidence of the MP's high-handedness, Dr Vishnuvardhan urged the authorities to take action against him. He said that if justice is not given to them, the doctors of the college would go on an indefinite strike that could bring patient care at the Government General Hospital to a standstill.

Speaking to TNIE, Pantham Nanaji expressed his regret over the incident and admitted that he had reacted rudely in the heat of the moment.

The Kakinada Rural MP said he went to the college premises to resolve the issue but it escalated unexpectedly, adding that the doctor involved in the dispute was his old friend.

Dr Ambati Naga Radhakrishna Yadav, president of the NTR district doctors' association of YSRC, condemned the JSP MP's attack on the Rangaraya College professor and demanded legal action against all those involved in the incident. “If no action is taken, we will call for a state-wide protest by the medical fraternity,” he threatened.