35-year-old resident doctor was assaulted by relatives of a patient at the Dhule Civil Hospital on Sunday night. The video that shows the mob kicking and slapping Dr. Rohan Mhamunkar and hitting him with a cot has gone viral, evoking strong reactions from doctors across Maharashtra.
While the police have arrested nine persons, Dr. Mhamunkar, who suffered multiple injuries, including an orbital fracture, was given preliminary treatment. He is recovering at his residence in Kandivali.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when a 20-year-old accident victim Shatrughan Lashkar was taken to the hospital’s casualty ward with a head injury. Casualty medical officer Dr. Arunkumar Nage started preliminary treatment. Dr. Rameez Raza, a lecturer in general surgery, and Dr. Mhamunkar, a senior orthopaedic resident doctor, also evaluated the patient.
The doctors decided that a CT scan would be done after the patient stabilised. They told the relatives that if the patient required a neurosurgeon, he would have to be shifted to a higher centre as the Dhule Civil Hospital did not have the facility.
Heated argument
One of the relatives got into an argument with Dr. Mhamunkar, and suddenly the mob started beating him up.
Dr. Mhamunkar was slapped and kicked. Some relatives of the patient hit him with a cot. The mob also ransacked the mini operation theatre.
State of shock
Soon after the attack, the mob dispersed. The patient was shifted to a private hospital, where he died. After a police complaint was filed, the Dhule police arrested four persons on Monday morning and another five in the evening. However, the doctors are demanding that the mob of 25-odd people be put behind bars.
Dr. Mhamunkar is in a state of shock. “He was in pain but he was calm. But, after he saw the video, he went in shock,” Dr. Mhamunkar’s mother Archana told The Hindu .
