BAMS doctor resigns, leaves city in fear after assault by Shiv Sena Corporator at Thane hospital

Thane: Two days after being allegedly assaulted inside Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) Shastrinagar Hospital by a Shiv Sena corporator, one of the doctors resigned from his job, saying he feared for his safety after receiving threatening phone calls and messages and alleging that unknown persons were following him.

The 26-year-old doctor, a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) who completed his BAMS degree, had been working at KDMC's Shastrinagar Hospital for nearly five months. Not only him, but the other assaulted staff members also submitted their resignation letters on Tuesday and have not returned to work since, citing safety concerns.

Speaking to NDTV, the doctor said he no longer feels safe and has decided not to return to work at the hospital. "I have resigned because there is a lot of fear. Goons are watching us, and I have already left the city. They are very dangerous people. The other doctors may continue working there, but I cannot. I will not go back there again," the doctor said.

Medical Dialogues had reported that two on-duty doctors were allegedly assaulted inside a civic-run hospital in Maharashtra's Thane district after advising the family of a newborn to shift the infant to another medical facility due to a shortage of beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Police have booked a Shiv Sena corporator and five others in connection with the incident.

The incident took place on Monday evening at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Kalyan, which is operated by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). According to police, the accused allegedly abused and physically attacked the female doctor and her colleague while they were on duty.

Incident in detail

In an exclusive interview with Indian Express, the doctor described the incident in detail. The incident unfolded on the evening of July 6 while he was on duty from 3 pm to 10 pm along with another woman doctor, two nurses and a hospital attendant.

Around 6 pm, the family of a nine-month pregnant woman requested an NICU bed for the baby before delivery. The woman's ultrasound had shown a double nuchal cord (two loops of the umbilical cord around the baby's neck) and reduced blood flow, following which doctors advised an emergency Caesarean section. Since the newborn was expected to require intensive neonatal care, the family insisted on an NICU bed at Shastrinagar Hospital.

However, the hospital's only emergency NICU bed was already occupied by another critically ill newborn. The doctors explained that it was medically impossible to discharge the admitted baby or create a new NICU bed. They assured the family that arrangements would be made to shift the patient to another KDMC hospital with NICU facilities, but the relatives refused and insisted on treatment at Shastrinagar Hospital.

Around 7.30 pm, the doctor said he began receiving repeated phone calls from Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation corporator (the accused), who allegedly demanded an immediate arrangement of a NICU bed. When he was informed that no bed was available, the doctor alleged that he abused and threatened him over the phone.

About 30 minutes later, before the patient could be shifted, four to five men and a woman allegedly entered the labour ward. According to the doctor, the group verbally abused the medical staff, damaged hospital property, including the oxygen storage area and doors, and physically assaulted everyone present.

He alleged that he was struck on the head with a hospital register, repeatedly punched on his face, head, chest and abdomen, while his mobile phone was knocked out of his hand as he tried to contact senior hospital officials. The woman doctor, two nurses and the hospital attendant were also allegedly assaulted.

Despite the attack, the doctors coordinated the transfer of the pregnant woman to KDMC's Vasant Valley Hospital, where NICU facilities were available. The doctor said they informed the paediatrician at the receiving hospital in advance and ensured that the patient received appropriate care. "Even after we were assaulted, we did everything possible for the patient," he said.

Accused arrested

The accused, a Shiv Sena corporator, was arrested on Wednesday. The corporator’s three associates were arrested on Tuesday night, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Kalyan, Atul Zende.

While the arrest came two days after the incident at the Shastri Nagar Hospital run by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), the outrage it produced forced the party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to promise disciplinary action against Mhatre.

A viral video showed the accused slapping and punching a helpless doctor and banging a register on his head. He is also seen hitting a female doctor on her hand.

The Shiv Sena leader, his four male supporters, and a woman were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 189(2) (unlawful assembly) and 191(2) (rioting), police said, as per PTI report.

Outrage from medical fraternity

Meanwhile, medical associations across Maharashtra strongly condemned the assault and demanded strict action against those responsible.

The BMC Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) condemned the attack on doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers at Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's Shastri Nagar Hospital, calling violence against healthcare professionals "completely unacceptable."

Expressing solidarity with the assaulted healthcare workers, BMC MARD President Dr. Rutuja Raut urged the authorities to conduct a swift and fair investigation, ensure strict legal action against the accused, and strengthen security measures at healthcare institutions to prevent such incidents in the future.

In support of the assaulted staff, Nair MARD organised a symbolic Black Ribbon Protest at Topiwala National Medical College and B.Y.L. Nair Charitable Hospital in Mumbai. Resident doctors from clinical, para-clinical, and pre-clinical departments wore black ribbons while performing their duties. The protest remained peaceful, and all hospital services, including outpatient departments, emergency care, inpatient services, and operation theatres, continued without disruption, underscoring the resident doctors' commitment to patient care.

The Maharashtra State branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) also met Maharashtra Director General of Police Sadanand Date and submitted a memorandum seeking strict action against those involved in the assault on doctors and nurses at KDMC Shastri Nagar Hospital. According to the IMA, the DGP assured the delegation that appropriate instructions would be issued to police stations across the state to ensure effective implementation of the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act in all cases of violence against healthcare establishments.

Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson IMA JDN on a social media platform 'X' said, "If the blood of the nation doesn’t boil watching the tears where female doctors and nurses were harassed and assaulted along with male doctors. Then you don’t have blood; it’s drain water!"

All India Medical Students Association strongly condemned the alleged act of violence by the Corporator. "Violence against healthcare professionals is unacceptable. We urge the Maharashtra Government to take strict legal action against the accused and ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of doctors, female healthcare workers, and nurses," the association said in a post on X.