A Shiv Sena corporator and five others have been booked for allegedly assaulting doctors and hospital staff at a civic hospital in Maharashtra's Thane district after the family of a newborn was advised to shift the infant to another medical facility due to a shortage of beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has sparked outrage among the medical fraternity and prompted demands for strict action against those involved.
According to police, the incident took place on Monday evening at Shastri Nagar Hospital, operated by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Doctors Srishti Bawiskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe had informed the family of a newborn that the baby needed to be shifted to another hospital because the NICU at Shastri Nagar Hospital had no available space. Upset over the advice, the family reportedly contacted local Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, who then arrived at the hospital along with supporters.
Police alleged that Mhatre and his associates verbally abused and physically assaulted the doctors and hospital staff inside the premises. Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe sustained injuries during the altercation. A video purportedly showing the corporator striking doctors and staff soon surfaced online, drawing widespread criticism and raising concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals.
The incident triggered strong protests from doctors and hospital employees. Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) warned of shutting down clinics and hospitals across the region if immediate action was not taken against the accused. Hospital workers also staged a "work-stop" protest on Tuesday, demanding the immediate arrest of Mhatre and his supporters.
A delegation comprising representatives of the IMA's Kalyan and Dombivli units, along with leaders of the civic workers' union, met KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal to press for swift legal action and stronger security measures for medical personnel.
Following the protests and mounting pressure from the medical community, police registered a case against Mhatre, four of his male supporters and one woman. The accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), and 191(2) (rioting).
Reacting to the incident, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde strongly condemned the assault and assured that no one would be shielded from legal action. Emphasising his background as a doctor, Shinde said healthcare professionals work under extremely stressful conditions and deserve safety and respect.
"The assault on doctors and medical staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital is highly condemnable. Patient care is not merely a profession but a service to humanity. Doctors, nurses and healthcare workers dedicate themselves day and night for public welfare. A case has already been registered, and no one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared. Strict legal action will follow, and the party will not support anyone found guilty. Internal disciplinary action will also be taken against those responsible," Shinde said, expressing solidarity with the hospital's medical staff.
Meanwhile, corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre denied allegations that he assaulted women doctors or nurses. While expressing regret over the incident, he claimed that the CCTV footage may have created a misleading impression because of the camera angle.
"I did not raise my hand against the female doctor. What appears in the CCTV footage may look that way due to the angle. I only tapped her hand because she was speaking on the phone and was not listening to our grievance. We have never raised our hands against women, and we never will," Mhatre said.
He further attributed the confrontation to shortcomings in the hospital's healthcare system, stating that he had reached the hospital after receiving calls regarding the newborn's condition. According to him, those who contacted him would be able to provide the complete sequence of events.
The incident has once again brought attention to the growing concern over violence against healthcare workers and renewed calls for stronger safeguards to ensure doctors and medical staff can perform their duties without fear or intimidation. Police are continuing their investigation into the case.
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