Guwahati. Demands for formulating laws against the vandals targeting doctors and other health workers gain momentum following an incident in Assam where a physician on duty was physically assaulted by a group of unruly individuals after the death of a patient due to Covid-19 complications. Assam police have already arrested 24 persons involved with the incident.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) urged the Union home minister Amit Shah to bring a comprehensive act against the people who indulge in healthcare violence in any part of India. It argues that the entire medical fraternity has been working tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic and they must be protected under specific laws.
IMA’s Assam branch echoed the demand after condemning the incident. All the doctors are at a loss at this gruesome reward to a frontline worker on corona duty, said a statement issued by the organisation. It called the State government in Dispur to book all the culprits under available stringent laws of the land and enforce exemplary punishments.
The shameful incident took place at Udali corona care centre in Hojai locality of central Assam on Tuesday night, where a junior doctor named Dr. Seuj Kumar Senapati was physically targeted by a mob soon after the death of a corona patient named Giyasuddin Ahmed. A video clipping that went viral in social media narrates the horrific story as many individuals attacked the doctor collectively.
Chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was in New Delhi meeting many high profiles including PM Narendra Modi, immediately called the incident as cruel and asked the police to nab the culprits. Such barbaric attacks on frontline workers won’t be tolerated, asserted Sarma asking for necessary medical attentions to Dr. Senapati at Guwahati medical college hospital.
He also revealed that 24 perpetrators were arrested in the early hours of Wed. and the charge sheet would be filed at the earliest. Some the offenders include Md Kamaruddin, Md Jainal Uddin, Saidul Alam, Rahim Uddin, Rajul Islam, Tayebur Rahman, Sahil Islam, Rahimuddin, Abdul Kalam, Nurzul Islam, Abdul Gumi, Dilwar Hussain, Abdul Hussain, Anowar Hussain, Ikramul Hussain, Jamil Ahmad, Sarifuddin, Mofizur Rahman, Misba Begum, etc.