KOLKATA: A bright student, a school topper, who also came first in his Higher Secondary examination from Howrah district, Paribaha Mukhopadhyay always wanted to study medicine and serve people. But before his career as a doctor could take off properly, the intern at NRS Medical College and Hospital, had to be admitted to ITU, after he was assaulted by a mob—supposedly family and friends of a patient who died at NRS on Monday night—early on Tuesday.“The patient (Mukhopadhyay) has suffered depressed fracture in the right frontal region with contusion. He was wheeled into the operation theatre for elevation frontal depression and wound debridement. Luckily, the damage was not very extensive and hence he is recovering well. His condition is stable,” said Dr Hrishikesh Kumar , neurologists at Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata (INK) where Mukhopadhyay is admitted. Initially, he admitted to NRS itself, but he was later shifted to INK. Doctors at INK suspect a blunt object, like a brick, had hit his head, causing the depression. Apart from the fracture, doctors did not find any internal injury. He was fully conscious when he was brought to INK, doctors said. “He would be under close observation for the next 24 hours when he will remain in the ICU. If everything goes well, we should be able to shift him to the ward,” said Dr Amit Roy, CEO, INK.The 24-year-old’s father, Subhankur, is a retired primary school teacher while his mother, Kalpana, is a homemaker. Paribaha passed his Class-XII from the government-aided Jhapordah Duke Institute at Domjur, scoring 90%. “A diligent boy, Paribaha did not even have to attend any coaching class to crack the medical entrance test. He always wanted to be a doctor. Look what have they done to him,” said his uncle, Sujit Ghoshal.It was around 2.30am on Tuesday that Mukhopadhyay’s colleagues called up his family and informed them about the assault. His mother, who has been immobile for almost four years due to neurological problems, and his ailing 75-year-old father are yet to be told the full extent of his injuries. “Despite all the hardship at home, my brother-in-law worked hard to become a doctor. He wanted to take up post-graduation. But I do not know what kind of impact this incident would have on him about this profession,” said Mukhopadhyay’s brother-in-law, K Chakraborty.The condition of the other junior doctor, Yash Tekwani, who has been admitted to NRS after the assault, has been stable.MoS for health Chandrima Bhattacharya visited Mukhopadhyay and assured his family that the government would bear the treatment expenses. “How could a person, who can’t harm even an insect, be assaulted in such a manner? We want the attackers behind the bar,” said Sayan Banerjee, another relative.