The Medical Officer in-Charge of the Chandrapur Community Health Centre (CHC) in Rayagada district was on Monday arrested for allegedly beating up six women health workers during the monthly review meeting.
The accused medico Dr Sanjib Kumar Behera had on Sunday been detained at the Muniguda police station for interrogation. Besides, a departmental inquiry was also initiated by the Rayagada ADMO on Sunday as per orders from the CDMO, sources said.
On Saturday, the six Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs) of the Chandrapur CHC were admitted to the Muniguda CHC after they were allegedly beaten up by Dr Behera. Dr Behera had reportedly thrashed the ANMs for their failure to furnish monthly reports during the monthly review meeting held at the CHC. The ANMs reportedly responded by saying they had not furnished their monthly reports in protest against not having been paid their salaries for the last five months.
On hearing the response, the Medical Officer allegedly lost his cool and misbehaved with them. However, the doctor refuted the allegations earlier on Sunday. “I was attacked by these women, who had been threatening me over allocation of quarters,” Dr Behera had said on Sunday.
While Muniguda SDPO Anant Prasad Mallick was investigating the incident, a case under Sections 354, 294 and 310 of SC/ST Atrocities Act against the doctor was registered for allegedly attacking the health workers.