Doctors demand action against police personnel; SHO suspended and departmental probe initiated
Doctors across Haryana have announced a one-day suspension of OPD services after an alleged assault on an on-duty doctor at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Gharaunda, Karnal district. The protest has been called by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), which has demanded strict legal action and the immediate arrest of the police personnel involved in the incident.
The protest comes amid a standoff between doctors and the police following the alleged incident at the CHC. The doctors’ body has stated that violence against medical professionals while they are performing their duties is unacceptable and undermines the functioning of public healthcare facilities.
HCMSA has demanded the registration of a case against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Gharaunda and other police personnel who were allegedly involved in the assault. The association has also called for a time-bound investigation into the incident to ensure accountability.
Earlier reports indicated that the incident occurred after a heated phone conversation between the medical officer posted at the CHC and the SHO. Following the exchange, police personnel reportedly reached the hospital premises and allegedly assaulted and verbally abused the doctor.
According to officials, Karnal Superintendent of Police Narender Bijrania confirmed that the SHO involved in the incident has been suspended. He also stated that a departmental enquiry has been initiated to investigate the matter.
The protest by government doctors has also received support from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Haryana chapter. The association has urged the authorities to register an FIR under the Haryana Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2009.
IMA has also written to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini seeking his intervention in the matter and requesting stronger protection measures for healthcare workers. The doctors’ body described the alleged behaviour of the police officer as “high-handed” and called for strict action against those responsible.
Reports suggest that CCTV footage of the incident shows the police officer confronting and allegedly assaulting the doctor while another person attempts to intervene. The doctor was reportedly grabbed by the collar, slapped, and pushed into a police vehicle while he was on duty inside the hospital premises.
The district unit of HCMSA has further alleged that the doctor was taken to the police station and illegally detained for nearly an hour. During this time, he was reportedly forced to write an apology before being released following the intervention of senior administrative officials.
