Nagpur: Nearly five years after a mob allegedly vandalised Hope Hospital and set parts of the facility ablaze following a Covid-era patient’s death, the criminal case remains pending. The delay has assumed significance amid a fresh spate of violence against doctors and hospitals in the city.The case, registered as FIR No 208/2021 at Panchpaoli police station, was once a test of the justice system’s response to attacks on healthcare institutions. Eleven accused continue to face trial for alleged offences including arson, rioting, trespass, assault and property damage. Though the case was committed to the sessions court in 2022, charges were framed only in July 2024. Proceedings have since involved applications and documentary disputes, including one concerning CCTV footage, while witness examination remains a key stage to be completed.The delay is particularly stark given the recurrence of hospital violence. In recent weeks, a resident doctor at AIIMS Nagpur was allegedly assaulted inside the ICU, while another incident at a private hospital saw doctors and medical staff getting attacked following the death of a three-year-old girl.Hope Hospital itself has again come under the spotlight after its management alleged an extortion bid involving a demand for Rs 12 lakh. The episode brought back uncomfortable memories of the earlier mob violence at the facility and raised questions about the continuing vulnerability of hospitals to intimidation, threats and crowd fury.The incidents point to a disturbing pattern in which disputes over patient deaths or treatment can escalate into violence against medical personnel and healthcare infrastructure. While police have announced measures to strengthen hospital security, the slow progress of older cases raises questions about deterrence and accountability.The arson case has become a test of whether those accused of attacking healthcare institutions will face timely justice, said a doctor.The next hearing is scheduled for Oct 28, its director Dr BK Murli said.
