The duty doctor at Hyderabad university health center has challenged HRD minister Smriti Irani’s claim that nobody allowed a medical professional near Rohit Vemula to revive him or to take him to hospital. Dr. M. Rajashree, who on duty when Rohit committed suicide on January 17 has approached the media with these claims. She said to ANI news that she had reached the scene in three to five minutes.
“It was January 17, at around 7:20 p.m to 7:30 p.m when I received a call from NRS hostel telling that one of the students has attempted suicide please rush to the place, I reached the place within three to five minutes,” Rajshree told ANI news.
She added that when she reached the place she started examining Rohith and his body was completely cold, rigid and stiff.
“His body was not straight and was a bit curved above the surface of the bed,” she added.
She said in the statement that she tried to examine his pulse rate and blood pressure but couldn’t find any, and his tongue was protruding outside. She then completed her examination upon which she declared him dead.
“After 15 to 20 minutes police came there and asked me if I can stay there as they might have some queries, and I said I am very much there,” she added.
She also said in the statement that the police requested her to assist in predicting the time of Vemula’s death.
“I told them I couldn’t provide exact time but told them that minimum two hours before I reached to see Rohith’s body, he must have died,” she added.
She also said that she was not prevented by anyone from examining the body.
The suicide of Rohit Vemula had resulted in a huge wave of protests and outrage aimed at the ruling BJP led NDA government.
Smriti Irani requested her opposition members, in her speech yesterday at the Lok Sabha, to not use a deceased student as a weapon against the government.
The HRD ministry has appointed a judicial committee to look into the issue.
