Relatives and friends of the patient gathered in large numbers on the IGMC premises and shouted slogans demanding the immediate arrest of the doctors. (Express Photo)
A 36-year-old patient who visited Shimla’s Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) for a bronchoscopy was allegedly assaulted by two doctors on Monday, triggering widespread protests at the premier health institution in Himachal Pradesh.
The patient has been identified as Arjun Singh, a resident of Kupvi in Shimla district, who runs a canteen at a leading boarding school in Shimla. Arjun Singh filed a police complaint against two doctors, including Senior Resident Dr Raghav Narula, alleging physical assault.
Confirming the complaint, Sub-Inspector Dilip Kumar, the investigating officer, said, “We have received a complaint from Arjun Singh and have started an investigation. The circumstances under which the alleged assault took place are being probed, and the statements of the accused doctors will be recorded.”
When contacted, Dr Raghav Narula denied the allegations. “I did not intend to assault the patient. The patient behaved rudely with me first. I will put my side before the police,” he said.
Vijju Pal, a friend of the patient, said Arjun Singh is a pulmonary patient and was scheduled for a bronchoscopy at the IGMC’s pulmonary medicine department on Monday. “We reached the institute around 11 am. After the test, a nurse advised Arjun Singh to take rest as he developed shortness of breath,” he said.
Vijju Pal alleged that Arjun Singh went to the pulmonary medicine ward and lay down on a bed. “In the meantime, two doctors arrived, and one of them behaved rudely with the patient. When Arjun Singh replied, both doctors attacked him. One of them caught him by his legs, while the other repeatedly punched him on the face, leaving him profusely bleeding,” he said.
Following the incident, senior medical officers and hospital authorities intervened.
The protesters were present at the hospital when this report was filed, and police were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
The police said further investigation was underway.