Jammu, May 25 (IANS): A doctor with a state-run hospital in Jammu was suspended on Monday for alleged negligence that led to the death of a patient, an official said.

The resident doctors' association, however, contested the suspension and alleged not the doctor's negligence but reaction from the drip caused the patient's death.

The doctor, Sushil Pandita, was working with the Government Medical College at Jammu.

Pandita was suspended by the college principal for negligence, a hospital official told IANS.

Resident doctors association alleged that the suspension order was issued under pressure from the state health department to shield the culprits.

The association, in a statement, said the patient died of drip reaction due to spurious glucose.

"This is not the first time a patient has died of drip reaction in the hospital. The doctors had already brought this to the notice of hospital authorities that there was some problem with the drips procured," said Neeraj Sharma, president of the Resident Doctors Association of the hospital.

"We are surprised how a doctor was suspended without even conducting an inquiry into the episode," he added.