Palghar doctor attacked, hospital vandalised over not discounting patient bill; 9 arrested
Palghar: In a shocking incident, a dispute over a patient's bill led to a group of people allegedly attacking the hospital head and ransacking the facility in Maharashtra's Palghar district. Nine persons were arrested in connection with the incident and offences were registered against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The incident took place on Friday following which nine persons were arrested, police said.
Around 20 to 25 people barged into the hospital located in the Boisar area, attacked the doctors and damaged the medical facility, district Superintendent of Police (rural) Balasaheb Patil told reporters on Saturday.
The issue of a medical bill of a patient was the immediate provocation for the attack, he said.
The hospital's chief was grievously injured and admitted to a hospital in Vapi town of neighbouring Gujarat, Patil said.
Dr Shinde while talking to reporters claimed that functionaries of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have been seeking a reduction in the hospital bills of patients. "We oblige but they never pay the bills," he further claimed.
While investigating the case, the police found the CCTV footage of the hospital which showed the horrific attack on the doctor after arguments over not discounting the bill of a patient and how the miscreants vandalised the hospital.
Following this, Additional Superintendent of Police Pankaj Shrisat and Deputy Superintendent Nityanand Zha took action against the attack and those found guilty were arrested.
Nine persons were arrested in connection with the incident and offences were registered against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for causing hurt, rioting, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation and under the Maharashtra Medicare Service, Persons and Medicare Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss of Property) Act, 2010, Patil said.
He said they have assured protection to the doctors after their delegation met him on Saturday.
According to a media report in Free Press Journal, a medical delegation led by President of the Palghar Medical Association Dr Rajendra Chawhan has expressed concern about such attacks on doctors.
