SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 29: The Jharkhand Health Services Association (JHSA), the frontal organization of state government doctors, while expressing concern over the assault on Dr Rajendra Kumar Paswan, medical officer-in-charge, Pathargama Community Health Centre (CHC) in Godda, has served 72 hours ultimatum to the district administration take action or face music.
JHSA state secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh said that even after five days of the incident not a single assaulter has been arrested so far. The district unit of JHSA and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) gave a joint memorandum to the Superintendent of Police but no action has been taken so far. That is a matter of concern, he added.
On August 25 late afternoon, over 100 villagers assaulted and confined Pathargama CHC medical officer in-charge Dr Rajendra Kumar Paswan for several hours till late evening following the death of a 10-year-old child on way to Sadar hospital. Nitu Kumari, daughter of Shivam Tatwa, drowned in a farmland ditch. After the first aid treatment, the Pathargama CHC doctor referred her to Sadar Hospital but she died on the way.
The doctor said despite an ambulance available at CHC, family members took her away by an auto and on their way to Sadar Hospital Godda she died.
Villagers returned to the Pathargama CHC with the body and assaulted the doctor holding him responsible for the death. Doctors and staff got themselves confined in a room to protect themselves from irate villagers. However, the SDM Godda on getting information rescued them.
“It was a conspiracy by a District Board member who has a personal grudge against Dr Rajendra Kumar Paswan. He instigated the villagers to assault the doctor. The matter of concern is that the FIR was lodged against three persons but all are roaming free,” said Dr Thakur.
The JHSA state secretary said that after the incident not only in Godda in fact doctors in all districts of the Santhal Pargana Division are in panic. For providing smooth health service, safety and confidence among doctors in the region is necessary. “ So, the JHSA has asked for immediate action against the assaulters,” he said.
