A probe has been ordered by Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar, a day after at least four MBBS intern doctors suffered injuries due to water cannons that were used against them during their protest in the campus of government-run Gandhi Medical College (GMC) to demand a hike in their stipend.
On Monday (September 7, 2026), hundreds of interns of the GMC, Bhopal, protested at their campus over their longstanding demand that their stipend be increased from the current ₹14,437 to ₹30,000. However, as they planned a march to the Chief Minister’s residence, the police used water cannons on the protestors, visuals of which appeared on the internet.
The protestors also alleged that as they continued their march later in the day, the police also resorted to baton charge on them near the campus. The march was stopped less than 2 kilometres from the CM house, prompting them to launch a sit-in at the site.
The sit-in in Bhopal’s Kamla Park area continued through the night and on Tuesday (September 8) even as they boycotted the OPD and routine operation theatre (OT) services, while emergency services remained operational. Services were also interrupted at Gwalior’s Gajra Raja Medical College in support of the protest.
Four interns injured in the police action
Speaking to The Hindu, Siddhartha Kumar Rai, undergraduate student wing president of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), Madhya Pradesh, said that at least four interns got seriously injured in the police action, including one person suffering a broken arm and another an eye injury.
“It was a completely peaceful protest inside the campus but still the interns who perform 36-hour-long duties and contribute the most in handling the heavy patient load at government hospitals were treated like goons by the police. They even targeted the girl interns who were standing on the side,” he said.
Meanwhile, various other doctors’ bodies in the State have also come out in support of the interns’ protest while condemning the police action.
Mr. Rai said that if a written assurance was not given by Tuesday night, the JDA and various other bodies will boycott medical services across the State from Wednesday (September 9).
Dr. Kavita N. Singh, Dean and CEO, GMC, Bhopal, also slammed the use of force in a letter to Commissioner Kumar while seeking an inquiry into the matter and action against responsible officers.
“Water cannon was used and lathicharge was done on the intern students at the emergency gate in which two students were injured.
Taking such action against intern students on the hospital campus without prior notice is completely inappropriate,” she wrote.
In an order, Mr. Kumar said that the matter was brought to attention by Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla and that Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 2, Vikas Sahwal has been appointed to conduct an “impartial investigation of the whole incident”.
“It has been brought to the notice by Shri Rajendra Shukla, Deputy Chief Minister, that during the protest of intern doctors in Bhopal on September 7, 2026, the police sprayed water using water cannon near the gate of Hamidia Hospital, due to which some doctors were injured,” the order read.
Mr. Rai also claimed that Madhya Pradesh ranked 28th in the country in the amount of stipend given to MBBS interns, after the Uttar Pradesh increasing the amount from ₹12,000 to ₹25,000 in August.
“But in terms of MBBS fee at government colleges, we are at the third position with about ₹1.15 lakh. How is this fair,” he asked.
Meanwhile, Mr. Shukla also held a meeting with senior officials and the management of the GMC to discuss the issue and interns’ demand and said that a resolution will be reached soon.
“I am aware of the issue raised by intern doctors in Bhopal regarding an increase in stipends. The expectations and problems of young doctors in the state are being taken seriously. I am in constant touch with representatives of the intern doctors on this matter,” he wrote on X.
“Our effort is to engage in positive discussions with all parties and arrive at an appropriate and practical solution to this issue. Young doctors play a vital role in strengthening the health services of the state, and the government is sensitive to their rightful expectations. Following discussions and necessary deliberations, appropriate and necessary decisions will be taken in this regard,” he added.
Published – September 09, 2026 02:36 am IST
