Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) A Shiv Sena corporator from Kalyan-Dombivli, Ramesh Mhatre, has come under scrutiny after CCTV footage purportedly showed him and several of his supporters assaulting doctors and hospital staff inside a municipal hospital in Maharashtra’s Kalyan.
The incident, which occurred on July 6, has sparked widespread condemnation from the medical fraternity and political leaders.
According to hospital officials, the incident stemmed from the treatment of a woman admitted to Shastrinagar Hospital for childbirth. Following a caesarean delivery, doctors found that the newborn required specialised medical care because the umbilical cord had been wrapped around the baby’s neck twice.
As the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was reportedly operating at full capacity, the attending doctors, Dr Srushti Baviskar and Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe, advised the family to shift the infant to another medical facility equipped to provide the required treatment.
Doctors alleged that the patient’s relatives subsequently contacted Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre. Since the doctors were attending to other patients at the time, they were unable to answer his calls. They claimed that Mhatre later arrived at the hospital along with several supporters.
Hospital CCTV footage, which has since surfaced on social media, appears to show an altercation during which Dr Salunkhe and Dr Baviskar were allegedly assaulted. The doctors alleged that they were verbally abused before being physically attacked without any attempt to understand the medical circumstances surrounding the case. Dr Salunkhe reportedly sustained injuries during the incident.
Two members of the nursing staff, Namita Ubale and Dravya Giri, who intervened in an attempt to protect the doctors, were also allegedly pushed and manhandled. The entire incident was captured by the hospital’s surveillance cameras.
The footage quickly went viral, triggering outrage among medical professionals and the public. Several healthcare organisations demanded strict action against those involved, stressing that violence against healthcare workers cannot be justified under any circumstances.
Despite the public backlash, Mhatre denied allegations that he had assaulted the woman doctor. Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, he maintained that he had not physically attacked her, claiming instead that he merely slapped her mobile phone as she was not responding to their concerns.
He argued that he was attempting to draw the doctor’s attention after repeated phone calls went unanswered. Mhatre also defended his actions by claiming that he was acting in the interest of the patient and the newborn.
He further stated that he would not apologise for the incident and asserted that his actions had helped save the lives of the woman and her child. However, he added that he would express regret if the doctors apologised for their behaviour.
Taking note of the incident, Shiv Sena MP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, condemned the assault on the doctors and the nursing staff.
“The assault on doctors and medical staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is highly condemnable. As a doctor myself, I know that patient service is not merely a job but a service to humanity. In extremely adverse and stressful conditions, doctors, nurses, and other health workers labour day and night for the public’s service,” Shinde posted on X.
He also promised strict action on the guilty. “A case has been registered in connection with this incident. No one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared, and strict action will be taken against the guilty as per the law. The party’s stance on this matter is also clear. The party will not support any individual involved in this attack. Strict disciplinary action will also be taken within the party against those found guilty.”
–IANS
jk/skp