FIR against 5 policemen after clash with Govt doctor in MP

Shahdol: A dispute between a government doctor and police officers in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district escalated into a physical altercation involving  both parties. In response, a case has been registered against five policemen under various sections of assault.

While the doctor accused the policemen of physically assaulting him, the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) claimed in his complaint that the doctor misbehaved with him and tore his uniform while he was performing his duty.

An FIR was registered against five policemen, one of whom has been taken off active duty, for allegedly beating a government doctor in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district, an official said on Thursday. 

The incident took place on the intervening night of May 16 and May 17, when the doctor, Krishnendu Dwivedi, and a few patrolling cops got into a dispute over a trivial matter, leading to manhandling from both sides, the official said, news agency PTI reported.

Later, the cops took Dr Dwivedi into custody and beat him in the lockup, injuring his backbone, his wife said in a complaint to senior officials.

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The Medical Teachers Association of Govt Medical College, MP Medical Officers Association, Shahdol branch, and the president of the Shahdol chapter of the Indian Medical Association later submitted a memorandum to the collector over the alleged assault on the doctor.

"Further course of action would be decided on the basis of the probe report. It was on May 17 at around 1.30 am, as per the statement of the doctor, he was returning home from govt medical college after night duty. He was in his car outside his house when police personnel approached him and misbehaved with him. He has not mentioned anyone's specific name in his statement. In the statement of the ASI, he alleged that he was on duty and saw a car with Haryana number plates in which a person was sitting and talking over the phone for long.Thinking it suspicious, police approached him, but instead of revealing his identity, he started misbehaving and also tore his uniform," SP Shahdol Ramji Shrivastav told TOI.

Acting on the complaint, District Magistrate Dr Kedar Singh has asked Sub Divisional Magistrate (Sohagpur) Arvind Shah to probe the matter and submit a report within 15 days, the official said.

Any person or organisation can register their statement at the Sohagpur SDM’s office on May 24 in connection with the matter.

Dr Dwivedi’s wife, Ratnamala Mishra, had also lodged a complaint in the Sohagpur police station, accusing cops of thrashing her husband and putting him in the lockup.

A video of the incident has gone viral, with both sides making allegations against each other.

She said her husband cannot walk because two vertebral bones in his spine broke due to the assault. She had demanded an investigation into the incident and strict action against those responsible, the official said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Shahdol, Abhishek Diwan, said that on the complaint of Dr Dwivedi's wife, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Shubhavant Chaturvedi has been “line attached” (taken off active duty).

The ASP said a case has been registered against five policemen, including ASI Chaturvedi, reports PTI.

Besides, on the report of the ASI, an FIR has also been registered against Dr Dwivedi and two others for obstructing government work, the official added.

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