The accused allegedly followed two brothers who went to the hospital to get the report of a medical-legal case and started arguing with them. The argument soon escalated into physical violence and one of the groups started firing at the other group which accidentally injured the doctor along with another security guard.
The doctor has been identified as a medical officer who was on duty on Saturday night and was serving at the emergency ward. As per a recent media report, both the brothers involved in the case had some rivalry with the other gang at Luv Kush Nagar locality in Putlighar. Following that rivalry, the opposite group including almost 9 people allegedly got involved in a clash with the two brothers and hit them on the head.
The group also manhandled their mother. The group again returned to the scene and fire a gunshot at one of the brothers. After narrowly escaping, the brothers filed a complaint at the cantonment police station and they were sent to Civil Hospital for treatment and medico-legal report.
When the brothers visited the hospital to collect their medico-legal report on Saturday night the other gang members allegedly followed them to the emergency room and a heated conversation took place between the groups.
The Tribune reports that the argument soon turned into physical violence and one of the gang members started firing randomly. The medical officer serving in the ward, unfortunately, got caught up in the middle of the firing and was hit by a bullet. He sustained an injury in his right thigh. After an initial first aid, he was rushed to a nearby private hospital.
Other than the doctor, another security person who tried to diffuse the situation also got injured. After the doctor got shot the accused escaped the spot. Deputy Police Commissioner of Police Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar stated that police are conducting search operations to nab the offenders as soon as possible.
Reacting to the incident, Punjab Civil medical officers associations senior vice President doctor Ganga dip Singh Shergill decided to hold a protest today at all the hospitals and clinics in the state. He also suggested that the hospital should not accept any medical-legal work especially at night across the state till authorities take a step to provide a proper security system to the health care facilities and the main accused is placed under arrest. He told the daily, "The entire staff of the Amritsar Civil Hospital is also on strike and medico-legal work has been stopped with immediate effect."
The Employees Welfare Association also decided not to take medical-legal cases and to stop issuing non-injury certificates till the safety of the staff is ascertained. As per the daily, the association also stated that this not the first instance of such cases in the facility, previously such cases also took place, and police were also reported. "On March 4, several persons had misbehaved with Dr Manpreet Kaur over issuing of a medico-legal report. A complaint was also lodged but no action was taken," said association president Dr Rakesh Sharma. The association also asked the police to install a permanent post in the hospital but no step was taken. The association threatened that the hospital staff will not accept any more medico-legal cases until a permanent policeman is employed for the hospital's security. However, after this incident Deputy Commissioner of Police has assured that armed police will be employed to guard the emergency ward of the hospital.
IMA has also severely condemned such acts of violence against the health care workers and sought an immediate arrest if they culprits. Some of the doctors have also posted on social media demanding action against the offenders.
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