MP: Doctor seeks Transfer after BJP Leaders Allegedly Assault Him

Bhopal: A 32-year-old doctor from Bari, who has been on the front-line fighting COVID-19, has sought police protection and a transfer, after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and supporters allegedly assaulted him inside a government hospital on June 6.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on June 6, in the government-run Community Health Centre at Bari town in Raisen district. The next day, hospital staff went on a day-long strike in protest against the assault.

The doctor in question, Raja Wasim Bakshi, met Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra at his bungalow on Monday. He demanded police protection and a transfer from the hospital, owing to the threat to his life from the accused.

“They have threatened my life after I reported the matter to the police following the assault. They are powerful people and BJP workers. I cannot re-join my workplace until I get police protection, or until the department transfers me to another district,” Dr. Bakshi told NewsClick over the phone.

“When even the local police is afraid of registering a case against the BJP leaders, despite knowing of their involvement in the assault, how can I take a chance and stay back? I am the sole bread-winner of my family and I cannot risk my life,” he added.

The doctor has been working in the Community Health Centre at Bari for the last four years. He alleged that an FIR had been registered against the patient and his brother, but not against the BJP workers who also assaulted him.

According to a police report of the incident, the doctor was attacked inside the hospital premises at 10:30 p.m. The incident occurred when a patient, 41-year-old Talwinder Singh, who was drunk, and suffering from liver failure, came to the hospital with his brother, 38-year-old Satwinder Singh, and others.

According to the police complaint, the patient was complaining of pain in his heart, following which he was taken to the hospital. As he was drunk and crying in pain, the doctor rushed him to the ward and administered a pain killer to him. Meanwhile, those accompanying him, including his brother, who were also drunk, gathered inside the ward and started abusing the doctor and nurses. When the doctor asked them to leave the ward and maintain social distancing, they attacked him and broke his right hand, the police complaint added.

“The patient was a chronic alcoholic and has been suffering from liver failure due to excess drinking. He visits the hospital every alternate month and I treat him. However, on Saturday, while I was treating the patient, I asked the others to leave the ward due to the growing crowd and to maintain social distancing in light of COVID-19. They began hurling abuses at me and the nurses instead. In the meantime, one of them called Monu Atwal and Jassi Atwal, the two sons of Raisen BJP leader, Jodha Singh Atwal. As soon as they reached, the crowd began assaulting me,” alleged Dr. Bakshi.

“The CM has asked the police to book those who attack COVID-19 warriors under the stringent National Security Act. However, not only did the police book them under less-serious charges, they also tried to save the attackers since they knew of the involvement of BJP leaders,” the doctor further alleged.

The Bari police booked Talwinder Singh and Satwinder Singh under Sections 147, 186, 294, 332 and 353 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 3/4 of the M.P. Medical Services Protection Act, 2008.

When NewsClick reached out to Satya Prakash Saxena, the Inspector at Bari police station, he said: “A case has been registered but the accused has not been arrested yet. The investigation is on.”

Raisen’s BJP District President, Jai Prakash Kirar, condemned the attack on the doctor. “I condemn the attack on the doctor. I know Jodha Singh Atwal, he is a party worker. However, I was unaware of this incident. I will talk to the police and Atwal about the incident,” he said.