Maharashtra: Medical officer assaulted by villagers

Palghar: A medical officer attached to a Primary Health Centre at Wada in the district was allegedly assaulted by a group of villagers over alleged medical negligence causing the death of a woman, police said.

The incident took place yesterday when the prime accused Mahesh Patil of Deoghar village along with other villagers raided the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and thrashed the medical officer, sub-inspector H B Dhangar of Wada police station said.

Patil's wife had died on September 17 due to post-delivery complications while being taken to the Thane civil hospital, Dhangar said.

After delivery, she was initially treated at Wada Rural Hospital and was referred her to Thane hospital, he said.

According to the Dhangar, Patil alleged that his wife was not given medical attention on time at the PHC in Wada which led to complications and caused her death. He held the doctors at the PHC were responsible for his wife's death.

A case under relevant sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010 was registered in this regard, the official said.

No arrests have been made so far and investigation is underway, Dhangar said.