SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 25: While the dust over the Hazaribag medical college assistant professor’s assault issue is yet settle completely, the beating, and abuse of the Garhwa civil surgeon by the district Board chairman has rocked the medico bodies of the state.
Rattled by the Garhwa incident, the Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA), the frontal organisation of government doctors, and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have jointly given an ultimatum to the state government to either take legal action against the district board chairman and her supporters in 72 hours or face the statewide strike of medicos.
JHSA president Dr PP Sah, secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh, IMA state president Dr A K Singh, and secretary Dr Pradip Kumar Singh have jointly shot off a letter to the Chief Secretary demanding immediate arrest of the culprits so that such incidents with doctors do not occur again.
On Thursday, the district board chairman Shanti Devi, JMM district president Tanveer Alam, along with supporters, locked civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar, deputy superintendent Dr Abdhesh Kumar Singh, district programme officer (DPM) Pradip Kumar Singh in the chamber. They beat up the civil surgeon and abused others.
“Worse, when the deputy superintendent went to lodge a complaint in the police station, the police officer did not file the FIR but at the same time later in the evening, a complain from the assaulter Shanti Devi and JMM leaders was registered,” said JHSA and IMA presidents and secretaries.
Besides Shanti Devi and Tanveer Alam, Nitesh Singh and Kanchan Kumar were also involved directly in assaulting the civil surgeon and others along with supporters. They were allegedly irate over a tender.
Shanti Devi, who allegedly led all the mess, has in her complaint to the police charged that the civil surgeon and deputy superintendent abused her by naming caste.
The assaulters during their ruckus in the civil surgeon’s office allegedly closed the camera of CCTV.
“All doctors are shocked and resentment prevailed in the state after the Garhwa incident. So we have urged the Chief Secretary to take an immediate step so that doctors’ faith in the state government can continue and they can discharge responsibility with protection and confidence,” said JHSA, IMA presidents and secretaries.
The medico bodies have also informed the Chief Secretary that after 72 hours, doctors of all government hospitals, private nursing homes and medical colleges would boycott their duty (except emergency service) in the state. The state government and district administration would be responsible for that.
The JHSA and the IMA would hold a joint meeting soon in Ranchi to discuss the prevailing situation in wake of doctor’s assault.
