Tension prevailed at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) here as locals allegedly manhandled an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of police on Friday.
According to reports, one Rakesh Swain (12) of Damasahi in the town had been admitted to the hospital in a critical condition in morning after snakebite. As the boy was declared dead at the DHH, his family members alleged medical negligence as the reason behind the death.
The relatives of the deceased along with some locals blocked NH-57 placing the body on road.
On being informed, policemen reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. However, ASI Nrusingha Panigrahi was allegedly manhandled by some women and his cloth was torn.
On the other hand, the hospital authorities rubbished the medical negligence allegation. The boy was already dead by the time his parents brought him to the hospital, the concerned doctor said.