SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Oct 27: Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta has assured the Association of Health Providers of India (AHPI), Jharkhand chapter, that stringent action will be taken against those involved in the violent attack on Asarfi Hospital in Dhanbad.
DGP Meets AHPI Delegation
The assurance came after a delegation from AHPI, led by state president Sayeed Ahmed Ansari, met the DGP at his residence on Monday. The delegation briefed him on the incident and urged immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of hospitals and healthcare professionals across Jharkhand.
The delegation included AHPI secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar and patron Dr Gambhir Raj.
Hospital Staff Assaulted, Property Damaged
According to reports, on Friday night, a mob of around 70 to 80 people—accompanied by family members of a deceased patient—attacked Asarfi Hospital after doctors declared a road accident victim “brought dead.”
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The attackers vandalised medical equipment worth nearly ₹50 lakh in the emergency and ICU wards and also assaulted doctors and hospital staff. Despite an FIR being lodged the same night, no arrests had been made even after three days.
DGP Orders Action, Plans Statewide Review
Taking serious note of the incident, DGP Gupta spoke directly with Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhat Kumar and instructed him to take prompt and strict action against all those involved.
AHPI president Sayeed Ahmed Ansari said the DGP also agreed to hold a Zoom meeting with Superintendents of Police (SPs) from all 24 districts next week, along with AHPI representatives, to discuss measures for preventing attacks on hospitals and medical professionals in the state.
AHPI Welcomes Police Assurance
“AHPI is satisfied with the DGP’s assurance. We believe he will take decisive steps to find a permanent solution to such incidents so that healthcare providers can serve patients in a peaceful environment,” said Ansari.
Incidents of hospital vandalism have been reported recently in Dhanbad, Giridih, and Palamu, raising concerns among the medical fraternity about the safety of healthcare institutions in Jharkhand.
