Lakeshore nurses held, released on bail

KOCHI: Tension prevailed at Lakeshore Hospital here, late on Saturday, after the police, acting on a court order obtained by the hospital management, arrested the striking nurses.  
Later, the nurses, who were allegedly arrested soon after the completion of the Piravom by-poll, were let off on bail by around 8.30 pm.
The nurses alleged that the arrest was politically motivated. “Around  60 nurses, who hail from Piravom went to cast their votes in the byelection. But they were arrested immediately after the election,” said Abhila K S, a nurse at Lakeshore Hospital. Meanwhile, the hospital management has come out heavily on the nurses. “During the last two days, the hospital could not function properly owing to the blockade at the entrance. The nurses who are not taking part in the strike are working overtime. We had to obtain a court order after the police failed to take any action,” said Dr Philip Augustine, MD, Lakeshore Hospital.