Doctors and other staffs of the Government-run City Hospital here on Monday afternoon resorted to an indefinite cease-work strike protesting against alleged attack on one of the medical officers and ransacking of the hospital by some miscreants.
While the incident happened when Congress party activists were on a dharna in front of the hospital, City Congress chief Md Moqim denied involvement of his party workers in the vandalism.
Meanwhile, basing on a written complaint filed by Assistant District Medical Officer (ADMO) Abhaya Kumar Patnaik, the local Darghabazar police station has registered a case in this regard and has begun investigation. “We have registered the case against unknown accused persons basing on the complaint and started investigation,” informed police inspector MK Mahana, stating that no arrests have been done yet in the case.
Congress leader Moqim clarified that his party workers were holding a peaceful dharna in front of the hospital as part of the party’s State-wide programme to highlight the poor and deteriorating health services across the State. “Angered over the pathetic situation in hospitals, irate patients’ relatives might have barged into the hospital. My party workers were not involved in the reported vandalism,” Moqim asserted.
Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Prafulla Behera said the miscreants ransacked the hospital damaging public properties, including chairs, tables, computers and TV sets.
He said one of the ADMOs was also physically assaulted, following which doctors and other staffs ceased work apprehending threat to their lives and demanding adequate security during duty hours.