Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (DV)
Puttur, Aug 17: The police have arrested the accused in connection to the alleged assault on duty doctors and vandalism at a hospital here, sources said.
Following the arrest, Puttur branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Doctors' Forum which were planning to protest and stay off duty on Monday August 17 have decided to withdraw their strike.
Sources said that police arrested a person identified as Mohammed Iqbal, who along with some others had allegedly assaulted Dr Ravindra and Dr Raviprakash, reportedly over a 'minor issue' on August 1. The same day, Dr Ravindra filed a complaint in this regard in Puttur police station and an FIR was registered under IPC Sections 323, 504, 427 and 34, and also under the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Medicare Service Personnel and Damage to Property in Medicare Service Institutions Act, 2009.
As no action was taken, around 150 doctors on August 4 gheraoed Puttur police station and submitted a memorandum to circle inspector Mahesh Prasad demanding immediate arrest of the accused. On August 9, they met MLA Shakuntala Shetty and urged her to intervene in the matter. However, as still no action was taken, the IMA Puttur and Doctors' Forum had announced the strike.
Speaking to daijiworld, Dr Ganesh Prasad, a member of IMA Puttur said that three doctors' organizations had called for a strike, but Shakuntala Shetty called them and informed that the police have already arrested the accused Mohammed Iqbal. "If we go ahead with the protest it would cause inconvenience to the people, so out of concern for the public we have dropped our plans. However, the police should also arrest the other people who were involved in the assault. We will hold a meeting soon to discuss the future course of action," he said.
Also, it may be mentioned here that on Sunday August 16, health minister U T Khader had assured of taking suitable action in the matter and had warned government doctors against going ahead with their strike.
Doctors in Kundapur protest
Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Meanwhile, the Kundapur branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday August 17 held a protest condemning the assault on duty doctors and vandalism at a hospital in Puttur on August 1.
The protestors demanded strict action against the accused and lamented that assaults on doctors had increased of late across the state.
The members of Kundapur IMA branch also wore black bands to register their protest.
They also submitted a memorandum addressed to U T Khader through the tahsildar, in which they urged the minister to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the state.
Kundapur IMA branch president Dr Mohan Kamath, secretary Dr Ranjit Hegde and other office-bearers were present.