Patna | Outpatient (OPD) services at AIIMS Patna remained disrupted for the third straight day on Sunday, as resident doctors continued their strike in protest against the alleged misconduct by Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand and his supporters. The strike, which began on Friday, has also impacted emergency and other hospital services, with no resolution in sight.
The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) has called a general body meeting to decide the future course of action amid ongoing tensions. On Saturday, a delegation of RDA members met with senior hospital officials to discuss the matter, but the strike is continuing “until further notice”.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the RDA demanded the immediate release of CCTV footage related to the incident, citing the need for transparency and justice. “We were given assurances, but we want accountability. Releasing the footage is crucial for the truth to come out,” the RDA said, as quoted by PTI.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday night when MLA Chetan Anand and his wife reportedly visited the hospital to see a supporter admitted there. The situation escalated after hospital security reportedly stopped the MLA’s armed guards from entering the premises, triggering a confrontation.
According to the RDA, the MLA, his wife, and armed guards forcibly entered restricted hospital areas, physically assaulted a security guard, threatened resident doctors with death, and brandished a firearm. The association has also demanded the invocation of relevant sections of the Arms Act, calling the presence of weapons in a medical facility a grave threat to safety.
“The administration assured us of legal assistance for all resident doctors and security personnel falsely implicated. It also committed to installing CCTV cameras in critical areas like the Trauma Centre, Emergency, Labour Room, and ICUs within 72 hours,” the RDA said.
The doctors are also calling for the immediate quashing of what they describe as a “false FIR” lodged against one of their colleagues.
Meanwhile, MLA Chetan Anand has denied the allegations, stating that he and his wife were mistreated and even assaulted by hospital staff during their visit. He claimed his wife sustained injuries and accused the staff of holding them “hostage”, prompting him to file a police complaint.
“My wife and I were there only to see a supporter admitted at the hospital. The staff misbehaved, thrashed my wife, and held us briefly,” he said. Anand’s mother, Lovely Anand, is the JD(U) MP from Sheohar.
Police confirmed that both parties have filed FIRs and that an investigation is currently underway.
As the deadlock continues, patients and their families are bearing the brunt of the standoff, with delays in treatment and reduced access to healthcare services at the state’s premier medical institute.
