The Assam police department has arrested 24 people in connection with an attack on Dr. Seuj Kumar Senapati at Odali COVID care centre in the Hojai disrtrict of Assam.
The incident came to light when the video clip of mob attacking a junior doctor surfaced on the internet. According to reports, a patient named Giyaz Uddin, resident of Pipal Pukhuri village, died on Tuesday due to COVID. Angered with the death of patient, family of deceased attacked the doctors of COVID care centre. The staffs and doctored escaped the centre looking at the blood thirsty mob but Dr. Seuj locked himself in the room. However, the mob broke through the room and attacked him mercilessly.
Talking to media, Dr Seuj Kumar Senapati said, “The relatives of the patient complained that the patient’s condition was serious. When I saw the patient, I found that he had already died. The relatives then immediately vandalised the furniture at the hospital and attacked me.”
Looking at the seriousness of situation, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he is personally monitoring the situation.
“24 culprits involved in this barbaric attack have been arrested and the charge sheet will be filed at the earliest. I am personally monitoring this investigation and I promise that justice will be served,” CM Himanta tweeted.
In another tweet, he wrote, “Such barbaric attacks on our frontline workers won’t be tolerated by our administration. @gpsinghassam @assampolice Ensure that the culprits brought to justice.”
In an overnight search operation, 24 people have been arrested by Assam Police Department. Earlier the day, the name of 22 culprits were shared by Himanta Biswa Sarma. The names are: Md Kamaruddin, Md Jainal Uddin, Rehanuddin, Saidul Alam, Rahim Uddin, Rajul Islam, Tayebur Rahman, Sahil Islam, Rahimuddin, Abdul Kalam, Nurzul Islam, Abdul Gumi, Dilwar Hussain, Abdul Hussain, Anuwar, Nasirrudin, Alimuddin, Jamil Ahmad, Sarifuddin, Safiquddin, Matibur Rahman and Miss Misba Begum.
The incident has evoked widespread criticism in the medical fraternity. Reacting to the incident, Dr Satyajit Borah, IMA president, Assam said, “All those people must be booked under stringent laws. They should be booked under Epidemic Act and also the Assam Medicare Service Act should be invoked. We demand a Fast-track trial and a verdict should be delivered within three months.”
‘The Govt should come out with a permanent solution. We demand that govt should put up armed forces in all the healthcare establishments, including the COVID care centres,’ added Dr. Satyajit.
Doctors in Assam are protesting against the incident. They have boycotted the OPD services on Wednesday in protest against the assault on Dr. Seuj Kumar. The Assam Medical Services Association has given the call for boycott of OPD services. The association also said that if these kind of incident happened any further, they will cease the services of OPD centres across the state.