Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who beat up doctors, held; assault in Shinde’s constituency

Mumbai: Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who beat up doctors of a civil hospital including a woman in Dombivli, was arrested by Maharashtra Police following an uproar on Wednesday. Mhatre and his supporters were caught on camera assaulting the doctors on Monday. The corporator attacked doctors after they advised a pregnant woman to get admitted to a different hospital due to her complications and unavailability of beds at the NICU ward.

Maharashtra’s Opposition attacked the state government for the assault. “This is an extremely serious incident. What’s happening in our state?” said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in the assembly. Maharashtra government said assaults on doctors will not be tolerated. BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, speaking to reporters outside the assembly, said: “Violence against doctors, especially female doctors, is wrong… Action will be taken as per the law.”

Shiv Sena too has distanced itself from Mhatre’s action. “We have issued a show-cause notice. We have a disciplinary committee and will take action against him,” said Shiv Sena’s Thane MP Naresh Mhaske.
Shiv Sena has been doubly embarrassed as the assault happened in the constituency of MP Shrikant Shinde, son of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Shrikant Shinde, a doctor himself, took to social media to condemn the assault.