Doctors in Chikkamagaluru Stage Protest After Assault on Doctor at District Hospital

The district hospital in Chikkamagaluru witnessed a shutdown of its outpatient department (OPD) as doctors and staff staged a protest following an alleged assault on an orthopaedic specialist. The incident occurred on Tuesday when a woman, identified as Tasleema, allegedly dragged the doctor and hurled footwear at him, leading to unrest at the hospital.

Assault on Doctor
The altercation began when Irshad, who had been injured, came to the Araluguppe Mallegowda District Hospital in Chikkamagaluru for treatment. While Dr B S Venkatesh, an orthopaedic specialist, was examining Irshad in the emergency ward, a group of Irshad’s relatives entered the ward. Dr Venkatesh asked the relatives to step outside to facilitate proper treatment.

Tensions escalated when Tasleema, a relative of Irshad, grabbed the doctor by his collar and subsequently threw her footwear at him. Following this incident, the hospital’s doctors and staff immediately closed the OPD and assembled in front of the district surgeon’s office, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the assault.

Protest and Arrests
The medical staff, outraged by the assault, refused to resume work until legal action was taken. They organised a procession and marched to the town police station to file a formal complaint. Bajrang Dal and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists joined the protest, also demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.

The police swiftly responded by registering an FIR and arresting two individuals, Tasleema and Irfan, for assaulting the doctor.

Counter-Complaint Filed by Tasleema
In a twist to the incident, Tasleema later lodged a counter-complaint, accusing Dr Venkatesh of verbally abusing her. Following this, Muslim leaders gathered in front of the women’s police station, where Tasleema had filed her complaint. The police registered a non-cognizable complaint against the doctor.

Disruption to Hospital Services
The protest led to a temporary halt in services at the hospital’s OPD, causing inconvenience to patients who had come for check-ups. The doctors and medical staff were adamant about continuing their protest until legal action was firmly in place, highlighting the growing concern over the safety of healthcare workers.