Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Nov 9: With the surrender of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists, the strike undertaken by postgraduate students and junior doctors of Bangalore Medical College which was going on since a week, was withdrawn on Friday November 8 afternoon. 

Activists of the Vedike had conveyed to the striking doctors on Thursday night itself that its activists will surrender before the police on Friday as they understand that closure of outpatient department would create serious problems for the general public. Although they asked the doctors to withdraw the planned closure of outpatient departments based on this promise, the doctors continued with their protest on Friday. 

The Vedike activists surrendered in the office of the deputy commissioner of police, city south division. As soon as they got confirmation that the activists had surrendered, the unions of junior doctors and Indian Medial Association held meeting. 

Deputy chief minister, Dr Ashwath Narayan, who got this information, held meeting of officials of health and medical education officials and promised to meet the demands of the doctors. After this, the striking doctors resumed work. 

On behalf of junior doctors, a letter was written to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to attract the attention of the central government about the assault, and to convince it about demands of doctors including security. They exchanged sweets to celebrate the promise given by the government. 

President of junior doctors union, Dr L N Reddy, said that the accused who assaulted the doctors have been taken into custody by the police. He said that the protest was being withdrawn based on promise made by the minister to meet demands of the doctors. 

Several private hospitals in the city elsewhere had closed down outpatient department as Indian Medical Association had given call for strike. Outpatient services resumed in the afternoon after the stir was withdrawn. 

In the meantime, 12 activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, who are facing charges of assaulting doctors and obstructing them from discharging their duties at Minto Eye Hospital in the city, surrendered on Friday, after which the court granted them bail. 12 persons including president of women's unit of the Vedike, Ashwini Gowda, Gayatri, Manu Gowda, Poornesh, and Harish recorded statements in V V Puram police station. They were later produced in the court.