Assault on doctors: Services resume at hospitals in Kalyan-Dombivali after corporator's arrest

Thane, Jul 9 (PTI) Healthcare services in civic and private hospitals in Kalyan-Dombivali belt in Thane district resumed completely on Thursday following a stir in connection with the alleged assault of on-duty medical staff by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre. The protest began after Mhatre allegedly assaulted Medical Officer Dr Srishti Baviskar, Medical Officer Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe, and two nurses at Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation's Shastri Nagar Hospital earlier this week. A case was registered on Tuesday at Vishnunagar police station and Mhatre was held on Wednesday. While civic hospital staff went on strike immediately after the assault, private practitioners affiliated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) also closed their clinics and hospitals in solidarity. The agitation was suspended late Wednesday evening after the police arrested the accused corporator. Healthcare services resumed in totality amid heavy police presence at civic-run Shastri Nagar and Rukminibai hospitals after Mhatre's arrest, officials said. After Mhatre's arrest, a delegation comprising Medical Health Officer Dr Deepa Shukla, Vasant Valley Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr Sapna Ramole and Shastri Nagar Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr Sadia Pinjari met KDMC civic chief Abhinav Goyal, who assured the delegation that robust security measures would be implemented immediately. "Permanent police posts will be set up at Shastri Nagar, Rukminibai, and Vasant Valley hospitals, ensuring police presence in all three shifts," Goyal said while promising to introduce mechanism of entry passes for visitors, deployment of trained counsellors for patient-relative mediation, increasing security guards, and fast-tracking recruitment of doctors and nursing staff. Following these assurances, medical associations agreed to withdraw the strike but stated they would remain in coordination until strict legal action is ensured. They also urged the civic administration to file an institutional complaint and secure senior criminal lawyers to represent the victimized doctors, adding that the case must be fast-tracked since video evidence of the assault is available. A viral video showed Mhatre slapping and punching a doctor and banging a register on his head. He is also seen hitting a female doctor on her hand. Meanwhile, an Indian Medical Association (IMA) delegation comprising Dr Shivkumar Utture, Dr Anil Pachnekar, and Dr Santosh Kadam met with Maharashtra Director General of Police Sadanand Date to demand stringent action, a senior medical official said. "DGP Date listened to the grievances, accepted our memorandum and assured that explicit instructions would be issued to all police stations to strictly implement Maharashtra Medical Service Persons and Medical Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act," Dr Santosh Kadam told PTI. Mhatre, his four male supporters, and a woman have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 189(2) (unlawful assembly) and 191(2) (rioting). PTI COR BNM