A dramatic incident unfolded at the Chikkamagaluru District Government Hospital, where an Orthopaedic specialist, Dr Venkatesh, was attacked by a patient’s assault involving a slipper and grabbing the doctor by the collar, has sparked a wave of protests among hospital staff and raised concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals in the region.
The incident occurred at the Government Aralaguppe Mallegowda District Hospital on September 10, when a woman, enraged by the alleged verbal abuse of her by a doctor, attacked Dr. Venkatesh. According to eyewitnesses, the doctor was hit with a slipper and physically confronted. The situation quickly escalated, with the hospital staff condemning the attack and staging a protest demanding increased security and protection.
In response to the assault, the hospital’s staff hospital was in front of the hospital, demanding the immediate shutdown of the Outpatient Department (OPD) until proper protection measures were implemented. The protest was fueled by the staff’s call staff’s legal action against the assailant, whom they believe should face the consequences for her actions.
The accused alleged that Dr. Venkatesh had verbally abused the patient’s elder patient who had come to offer water to her brother, who was injured in a fight between two groups. Angered by the alleged mistreatment, the patient sistepatient’s violently strikes the doctor and escalates the conflict.
Hospital staff said that the accused and others entered the emergency treatment room by breaking the queue. The doctor send them away, instructing follow the queue. But Tasima and Irfan did not listen to the doctor saying he should immediately treat their relative and assaulted him when he refused the request.
As the situation intensified, hospital staff moved their protest from the hospital grounds to the local police station. Hundreds of healthcare workers, joined by members of various organizations, including the Auto Drivers Association, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and Bajrang Dal, gathered near the Chikkamagaluru town police station, demanding the immediate arrest of the woman involved in the assault.
Shouting slogans and holding placards, the protesters called for justice and insisted on strict legal action to deter any future assaults on healthcare professionals. The demonstration drew widespread attention, reflecting the deep concerns among medical staff over their safety while performing their duties.
District Hospital Surgeon Dr. Mohan, representing the hospital staff, approached the Superintendent of Police (SP) to lodge a formal complaint. He cited a lack of adequate police presence on the hospital premises as contributing to the incident, urging the authorities to deploy more security personnel to prevent such events.
The Chikkamagaluru police swiftly registered an FIR against Taseema and Irfan, the woman accused of attacking Dr Venkatesh. Taseema and Irfan, who was also involved in the altercation, were subsequently arrested. The arrests did little to calm the situation, as the protest continued to gain momentum, with various groups joining in solidarity with the medical staff.
The assault on Dr Venkatesh comes amid a broader backdrop of rising violence against healthcare professionals across India. Just last month, nationwide protests erupted following the assault and rape of doctors in Kolkata, highlighting the increasing dangers faced by medical staff in their line of duty.
Healthcare workers nationwide have voiced concerns over the lack of safety measures and legal protections. The recent incident in Chikkamagaluru has reignited these concerns, with calls for stronger laws and better security to safeguard the lives and dignity of those who serve on the frontlines of public health.
As tensions continue to simmer in Chikkamagaluru, the incident is a stark reminder of medical professionals’ vulnerabilities. The healthcare community has called for a more robust response from the authorities to ensure their safety and has demanded stricter enforcement of laws to prevent future attacks. The situation remains tense, with the medical fraternity standing firm in their demands for justice and protection.
The video of the assaulting the doctor went viral in social media, attracting severe condemnation. Chikkamagaluru town police inspector Renuka Prasad told the Organiser that the police immediately arrested the accused and booked under various sections of IPC. The accused was produced before JMFC court in Chikkamagaluru, which remanded the both to judicial custody for 14 days.
