Doc thrashed, accused commits suicide in jail
An accused, who, along with others, had allegedly assaulted a resident doctor in Dhule on Monday, committed suicide in police custody on Tuesday afternoon. The case has been handed over to the CID for investigation.
Pradip Sadashiv Vetal allegedly hung himself in the lock-up toilet. Following the death, the situation was tense in Dhule and relatives of the deceased are agitating in front of the city police station.
Meanwhile, doctors had struck work in Dhule district on Tuesday after a resident orthopedist working in Dhule Civil Hospital was assaulted by a mob. The cops have arrested 9 persons. The resident doctor of the hospital, Dr Rohan Mamunkar, has reportedly lost his vision in one eye and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai.
Dr Mamunkar was on duty when relatives brought an accident victim to the hospital. As the victim needed immediate treatment for a skull injury, Dr Mamunkar told them that a neurosurgeon was not available and that they should shift the victim to another clinic. An argument ensued, following which Dr Mamunkar was beaten up, injuring his eye and head.
The local secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr Pankaj Deore, has demanded that the law pertaining to assault on doctors be made stricter. “About 450 doctors struck work on Tuesday and the agitation will continue. The matter should be taken seriously by the government,” he said.