Palghar: Deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has taken serious cognisance of the alleged assault on a private hospital employee by Shiv Sena workers in Palghar. Palghar city chief Rahul Gharat, who was allegedly involved in the incident, was arrested on Monday and subsequently suspended from the party. Shinde said such incidents would not be tolerated and warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible.Indian Medical Association’s Maharashtra unit has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a “fair” and “time-bound investigation” into the incident. Doctors want prompt prosecution of those found responsible as well as protection against political or external interference. The state IMA, along with IMA Boisar, has also sought stronger police-response mechanisms for healthcare establishments across Maharashtra as well as a 24×7 emergency helpline for doctors and hospitals facing violence or threats. “Healthcare professionals cannot function effectively when working under fear or intimidation,” the letter added.The incident occurred at Relief Hospital in Palghar on Saturday night over the treatment of an injured govinda. Shiv Sena workers allegedly created a ruckus at the hospital and assaulted an employee, Vivek Zinga. The party functionaries allegedly abused and threatened hospital staff before taking away the injured govinda while he was undergoing treatment.The incident has drawn widespread criticism across the state. Palghar police registered a case against 17 people, including the Shiv Sena district chief and city chief. Gharat appeared before the police on Monday and was arrested. He was produced before a court and remanded in police custody for a day. Police said efforts were on to trace the remaining accused.Reacting to the incident, Shinde said the party had suspended Gharat. “The incident is extremely unfortunate. Assaulting doctors or other healthcare workers is not justified. Shiv Sena will not support such acts,” he said.“If there was any wrongdoing in the treatment of the patient, a complaint should have been lodged through legal channels. Taking the law into one’s own hands is not acceptable, and Shiv Sena will not support it,” Shinde said.He warned party workers that violence against doctors or healthcare workers would not be tolerated under any circumstances and that those found guilty would face strict action.Meanwhile, the injured govinda, Akash Patil, reiterated his allegations against the doctors. He claimed that although he felt better after being given an injection, he was allegedly put on a saline drip and kept in the ICU for three hours against his wishes.Palghar MLA Rajendra Gavit visited the police station and demanded that a case be registered against the doctors. He alleged that hospital staff were forcibly keeping the injured Govindas at the hospital and asking them to undergo MRI and CT scans.Gavit said Shiv Sena office-bearers had gone to the hospital to help the injured govindas and that a verbal altercation had taken place. He alleged that the doctors subsequently lodged a complaint out of vendetta and pressured the police to register a case.The injured govindas had only questioned the doctors about why they had charged an excessive bill. Gavit demanded that a case be registered against the doctors for allegedly confining the patients against their will.IMA added that an FIR should be registered under all applicable provisions, including the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss of Property) Act, 2010, besides relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
