Doctors protest against attack on on-duty physician at Unakoti District Hospital

Health workers of Unakoti District Hospital staged a protest in front of the hospital premises on Wednesday, expressing their outrage over the alleged assault on Dr. Dhrupad Das, an on-duty physician, by three individuals, including Shyamal Das, a former assistant president of Unakoti District Council and a current BJP member.

According to the health workers, the incident occurred on the night of December 5 when the three accused misbehaved with Dr. Das and physically assaulted him within the hospital premises. Following the attack, the aggrieved doctor filed a case with Kailashahar Police Station. Acting on the complaint, the police promptly arrested the accused on December 6 and presented them before the court. However, the accused were released on bail later the same evening, sparking outrage among the medical fraternity.

On December 7, a delegation of doctors met with the Superintendent of Police, Unakoti District, to voice their dissatisfaction with what they described as a weak stance taken by the Kailashahar Police Station. The doctors claimed the police’s handling of the case directly contributed to the attackers securing bail, undermining the safety and dignity of healthcare workers.

The hospital staff escalated their protest on Wednesday by going on strike, halting healthcare services and demanding stricter actions against those responsible. Speaking to the media, a representative of the protesting workers said, ‘if immediate action is not taken and justice is delayed, we will initiate a larger movement across the district. This is not just an attack on one doctor, but on the entire healthcare community.’

The protest highlights growing concerns about the safety of medical professionals in the region and raises questions about the accountability of law enforcement in handling such cases. The Unkoti district administration has yet to issue a statement on the matter, while the police investigation continues.

The strike has caused disruptions in hospital services, with patients bearing the brunt of the ongoing agitation. Efforts are underway to mediate between the protesting health workers and district authorities to resolve the crisis.