Palghar: What began as an argument over a hospital bill reportedly turned into a late night confrontation at a Palghar hospital, with several Shiv Sena workers accused of assaulting and threatening medical staff.
The incident took place at Relief Hospital in Palghar in the early hours of Sunday, September 6, after an injured participant from a Dahi Handi ‘Govinda’ group was brought in for treatment.
The dispute reportedly started when members of the group questioned a rs 19,866 bill issued by the hospital. The argument soon escalated, with hospital staff alleging that a group of people entered the premises and began abusing and threatening them.
CCTV footage from the hospital reportedly captured one of the men slapping a receptionist during the confrontation.
According to the complaint filed by hospital staff, Shiv Sena district chief Kundan Sankhe, city chief Rahul Gharat and others were among those involved in the confrontation. Staff members have alleged that they were threatened and manhandled during the incident.
Things reportedly became more serious when some of the men entered the hospital’s ICU, where an injured Govinda was being treated. Hospital staff alleged that a nurse was threatened and that the patient’s IV drip was removed. The injured man was then allegedly taken out of the hospital.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Medical Services Protection Act. According to reports, 17 people have been named in the case. Those named include Sankhe, Gharat and Rohit Gavit, son of local MLA Rajendra Gavit.
Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence as part of the investigation. The allegations are yet to be established in court.
The incident has also drawn criticism from political leaders and renewed attention to the issue of violence against healthcare workers. Congress leader Atul Londhe Patil called the incident “shameful” and questioned why medical staff continue to face attacks while doing their jobs.
For the hospital staff involved, however, the immediate concern was more basic ensuring the safety of doctors, nurses and other workers inside a place meant to treat patients not become the scene of a confrontation.