Body Of Indian Student Arrives From Armenia

BODY OF INDIAN STUDENT ARRIVES FROM ARMENIA

The Statesman (India)
April 24, 2006 Monday

Statesman News Service SILIGURI, April 23: Shell-shocked family
members received the body of Prashant Anchalia, who died on Thursday
after apparently falling from the sixth floor of the Yerevan State
Medical Universitys hostel in Armenia, at Bagdogra airport around
1.30 pm today. A pall of gloom descended on the town as Prashants
body reached his residence at Church Road here from Bagdogra airport.

A large number of people had gathered outside the residence of
the Anchalias to bid adieu to Prashant, whom they used to know as
a brilliant student, who he died in mysterious circumstances in
Armenia. Puja Goel, who too hails from Siliguri and studies at YSMU
in Armenia, and Abhishek, Prashants friend, accompanied the body as
it reached Siliguri from Armenia, via New Delhi.

The duo was so shocked with the death of their friend that they could
not even speak to the media. Later in the evening, they narrated
the entire incident, and the lackadaisical attitude of the YSMU
authorities, to the victims family members. The grief-stricken family
members of Prashant, after hearing the duo, alleged that Prashant was
murdered. We demand a high-level inquiry into the circumstances that
led to Prashants death, Mr Pankaj Anchalia, the victims elder brother,
said. Puja and Abhishek, eyewitnesses of the incident, alleged that
they wanted to give their friend first aid but policemen and the
medical department dean of YSMU, Ms Anna Sargsayn, didnt allow them,
saying that they must wait for an ambulance.

The ambulance arrived in 50 minutes without any doctor, the necessary
medicine and oxygen. The Indian students approached the YSMUs newly
appointed rector, Mr Gohar Kjalyan, but the latter insulted them,
instead of offering help. Mr Pankaj Anchalia said what they heard from
Puja and Abhishek was unfortunate. Either the CBI or the Interpol
should probe the incident, he demanded. Mr Anchalia also lashed
out at the Prime Ministers Office for not responding to their fax
message. The Government of India should have helped us bring the
body from Armenia. But they did not. Had the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr
Somnath Chatterjee, not intervened, the body would not have reached
Siliguri today, he said. Mr Somnath Chatterjee had contacted the
Indian amabassador in Armenia, Mrs Reena Pandey, and instructed her
to extend all possible help to us. He also sent his condolences to us,
Mr Anchalia added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS