No docs, residents lock civil hospital in Maur

BATHINDA: Residents of Maur on Monday locked gates of the civil hospital and started an indefinite protest against non-availability of doctors. The protesters, including farmer union activists, workers of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal and families affected by twin bomb blasts that rocked Maur in January last year, didn’t let anybody enter the hospital. AAP leader and local MLA Jagdev Singh Kamalu too joined the protest.

Employees of the hospital were forced to remain inside the hospital during the day. Efforts of the district administration to pacify the protesters too proved futile. Budha Dal leader Devinder Singh said residents of the town are suffering as no doctor has been posted in the hospital for long.

Naveen Singla, leading the Maur Bomb Blast Virodhi Sangharsh Committee seeking arrest of blast accused, said all traders, except vegetable sellers, have decided to observe shutdown on Tuesday. The hospital has four posts of specialists, a medical officer and medical officer (dental), but all posts are vacant. Civil surgeon Dr Hari Narain Singh said he has written to higher authorities, including director health and family welfare, and Bathinda DC, to expedite the process to fill posts.