SRN Hospital violence: Arrest of MLN resident draws backlash, doctors move CM, NHRC

New Delhi: The arrest of a resident doctor from Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, after the recent doctors-lawyers clash has sparked outrage among doctors' associations, who have sought intervention from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and approached the National Human Rights Commission.

The associations have questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest, claiming it came despite assurances from the authorities that no coercive action would be taken against resident doctors.

Protesting against the arrest of a resident doctor from Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, following the doctors vs lawyers clash, the doctors under the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have requested an urgent intervention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in this regard.

The Vice President of the association, Dr. Lakshya Jha, told Medical Dialogues that they were initially not sure whether the concerned medico was arrested or abducted, since the police officials were denying arresting him. It was after speaking to the District officials that they got to know that the medico was arrested by the police.

Meanwhile, protesting against the "illegal detention" of the PG medico, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), urging it to take urgent cognisance of the matter and register it as a human rights complaint. Further the association has prayed to the Commission to direct immediate disclosure of the doctor's whereabouts, custodial status, and health condition, seek an urgent factual report from the concerned authorities, ensure immediate access of the doctor to his family and legal counsel, investigate allegations of intimidation and manhandling of family members, examine whether due process mandated under law has been followed, and take appropriate action to safeguard the constitutional rights and dignity of the concerned doctor.

What led to the Arrest?

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported on the violent clash that broke out between doctors and lawyers at Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital of MLN Medical College, over an alleged delay in a patient's treatment on May 20.

While the lawyers have claimed that they were allegedly assaulted by doctors after an argument broke out, the doctors have denied the allegations and have stated that a female resident doctor was brutally attacked and the hospital was vandalised by a mob of lawyers.

Following the incident, the medical college authorities formed a three-member inquiry committee and suspended around 20 doctors who were on duty that day.

Later, the resident doctors had initiated a strike, which was ultimately called off after assurance was given that no punitive action would be taken against the resident doctors. Despite this, a PG second-year resident doctor went missing from his residence on Monday.

How the medico was arrested: 

In its complaint to NHRC, FORDA mentioed that the junior resident doctor was allegedly picked up from his private residence in Rampur, U.P., by individuals in civil clothes, believed to be police personnel, without any warrant, formal identification, or disclosure of grounds of detention. Family members who attempted to seek information - including women - were reportedly intimidated and manhandled. Several hours have since elapsed, yet no information has been provided to the family, the RDA, or the college administration regarding the doctor's whereabouts, custody status, health condition, or legal basis of detention.

FORDA has raised the core concerns regarding the detention being carried out without warrant, notice, or official documentation, complete information blackout, manhandling of family members, the doctor having no access to legal counsel, and blatant violation of the right to personal liberty and due process of law, and selective state action against the very doctors who were victims in the original incident.

The doctors' body has urged the Commission to take suo motu cognisance and treat this as an urgent formal complaint, direct authorities to immediately disclose the doctor's whereabouts, custody status, and health condition, seek an urgent factual report from UP Police, District Administration Rampur & Prayagraj, and State Health Authorities within 24 hours, ensure the doctor is immediately granted access to his family and legal counsel, investigate the intimidation and manhandling of family members during the alleged detention, direct the Government of U.P. to ensure safety, dignity, and protection from arbitrary action for all resident doctors serving in government institutions, and fix accountability against officials found to have violated due process and human rights norms.

The resident doctors from MLN Medical College have also written to the in this regard. "A few days ago, resident doctors of M.L.N. Medical College were allegedly subjected to assault and intimidation following an altercation involving members of the legal fraternity. The ensuing unrest was resolved only after assurances were provided before the District Magistrate, Prayagraj, following which the resident doctors resumed their duties in good faith. Following these events, one of our Junior Residents has reportedly been taken away from his residence in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. Since the morning of today, neither his colleagues nor the Resident Doctors' Association have received any official communication regarding his whereabouts, condition, or safety.As reported by the doctor's family members and available sources, individuals allegedly identifying themselves as police personnel arrived at the residence in civil dress and took the doctor away," the letter stated.

"The family has further alleged that firearms were displayed during the incident and that the doctor's pregnant sister and mother were physically manhandled while attempting to intervene. If true, these allegations represent a grave violation of human dignity, personal liberty, and the rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India. The continued absence of verified information regarding our colleague's whereabouts has created widespread fear among resident doctors. The family remains devastated, and the medical fraternity is deeply shaken by the possibility that a young doctor can be taken away without transparency regarding his status or location. We respectfully request the National Human Rights Commission to urgently inquire into the matter, ascertain the whereabouts and safety of the concerned doctor, investigate the allegations made by his family, and ensure that his constitutional and human rights are fully protected. We place our faith in the Commission's commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every citizen and request immediate intervention in this matter," the medicos further added in the letter.

Meanwhile, highlighting the incident, the United Doctors Front (UDF) wrote on X, "URGENT: PG 2ND YEAR RESIDENT DOCTOR ABDUCTED IN RAMPUR, UP! Dr. *** (PG 2nd year resident, MLN Medical College, Prayagraj) was forcibly taken from his home in Lalala Nagla, Kemri, Rampur at ~10:30 AM today (08-06-2026). His brother has filed a formal complaint at Thana Kemri. No trace since. Colleagues say plain-clothes police took him — linked to the recent doctors-lawyers clash in Prayagraj. UP government keeps boasting about "law and order" — but when a serving PG resident doctor can be dragged out of his house in broad daylight with zero accountability or information, what kind of law & order is this?"

Sharing a copy of the complaint filed in this connection, the association demanded an immediate, transparent investigation and the safe return of the doctor.

Sources informed Medical Dialogues that even though the medico was taken by police, the police allegedly denied arresting the doctor. After FAIMA intervened and talked to the district officials, they confirmed that the medico was, in fact, arrested.

FAIMA has written to the Chief Minister in this connection. Expressing concern and a strong objection to the incident of arrest of the concerned medico, despite explicit assurances given by the district administration, the association wrote in the letter directed to the CM, "The medical fraternity across the country is deeply disturbed by reports that a Resident Doctor was taken from his residence and subsequently arrested after Resident Doctors had already withdrawn their strike and resumed all healthcare services in good faith. This decision to resume services was taken solely on the basis of assurances provided during a meeting held in the presence of the District Magistrate, Prayagraj, wherein Resident Doctors were clearly informed that no punitive, coercive, or disciplinary action would be initiated against the concerned Junior Residents."

"The subsequent arrest of a Resident Doctor is not merely an administrative action; it represents a serious breach of trust that has shaken the confidence of thousands of doctors in the assurances given by public authorities. Such actions send a deeply disturbing message to healthcare professionals who work tirelessly in the service of the public and undermine the faith of doctors in institutional commitments," the association further added.

FAIMA expressed that the incident has generated widespread fear, anxiety, and insecurity among Resident Doctors, as many of these doctors now feel vulnerable despite acting in accordance with the assurances provided by the administration.

"A situation where doctors are persuaded to restore healthcare services through dialogue and assurances, only to witness subsequent coercive action, raises serious concerns regarding fairness, transparency, and accountability," it added.

Stressing that the rights, dignity, and legal protections guaranteed to every citizen, including doctors, must be fully respected, the association added in the letter that no healthcare worker should be subjected to intimidation, selective action, or circumstances that create fear within the medical community.

The association has urged the Chief Minister to ensure, a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation into the entire sequence of events, immediate verification and official communication regarding the safety, well-being, and legal status of the concerned Resident Doctor, protection of the legal and constitutional rights of all doctors and healthcare workers, strict adherence to the assurances previously given by the District Administration, prevention of any form of intimidation, harassment, or coercive action against Resident Doctors, and restoration of confidence among healthcare professionals through transparent and accountable administrative action.

"The medical fraternity of India is closely watching this matter. The arrest of a doctor after services were restored based on official assurances has created nationwide concern and risks damaging the trust that is essential between healthcare professionals and the administration," the association added.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, Dr. Lakshya Kumar Jha, the National Vice President of FAIMA explained the sequence of event in detail and said, "A clash occurred between lawyers and resident doctors at MLN Medical College/SRN Hospital, Prayagraj. Resident doctors went on strike in response to the incident and concerns regarding their safety and treatment. A meeting was held in the presence of the District Magistrate, Prayagraj. Resident doctors were assured that no punitive, coercive, or disciplinary action would be initiated against junior residents."

"Based on these assurances, resident doctors withdrew their strike and resumed healthcare services. Subsequently, a junior resident doctor was allegedly taken from his residence and arrested by the police. FAIMA views this as a breach of the assurances given by the administration and has sought intervention from the Chief Minister," he added.

"What is concerning to the medical fraternity is that resident doctors had resumed duties after discussions with the administration and after assurances that no coercive action would be taken against junior residents while the matter was under inquiry. The subsequent detention/arrest of a resident doctor has therefore raised serious concerns regarding due process and the trust reposed by doctors in the administration. At present, we are seeking clarity from the authorities regarding the exact grounds of arrest, the legal provisions invoked, and whether all procedural safeguards were followed. We have also requested a fair, impartial and transparent investigation so that responsibility is fixed on the basis of evidence and not on the basis of profession. We believe that any investigation should be evidence-based and that the rights and safety of resident doctors must be protected while the inquiry proceeds," Dr. Jha further mentioned.

Also Read: SRN hospital violence: Doctors slam suspension of resident medicos, demand rollback, fair probe