MUMBAI: A Shiv Sena corporator, Ramesh Mhatre, arrested for allegedly assaulting two doctors at a civic-run hospital in Maharashtra’s Thane, was admitted to the ICU of the district civil hospital after complaining of chest pain.Medical professionals and staff at the Thane District Civil Hospital, where Mhatre is undergoing treatment, staged a protest against him over the “unjustified” assault on two doctors and demanded his immediate disqualification, news agency PTI reported.Mhatre and his aides are accused of assaulting two doctors, including a woman, at the Shastri Nagar Hospital run by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Thane district.The incident took place on Monday evening and was captured on CCTV.A video of the assault later went viral, triggering widespread outrage and condemnation.While three of Mhatre’s aides were arrested on Tuesday, the corporator was arrested on Wednesday night.Following his arrest, Mhatre complained of chest pain and was admitted to the Thane District Civil Hospital, an official said.As Mhatre received treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), doctors, nurses and administrative staff gathered outside the hospital to protest the assault.The protesters raised slogans such as “Attacks on doctors must stop” and “Provide security to healthcare workers”, saying that a public representative who attacks medical professionals has no moral right to hold public office.Dr Dheeraj S Mahangade, additional district civil surgeon and senior orthopaedic specialist, condemned the assault but said the hospital would continue to fulfil its duty of treating the corporator, PTI reported.He said Mhatre has only one kidney and suffers from high blood pressure. He is under proper medical care and is expected to be discharged by Thursday evening or Friday morning.“As doctors, providing treatment is our duty, but under no circumstances can an attack on medical professionals be justified,” Dr Mahangade said.He questioned whether a public representative would tolerate a similar physical assault by constituents and stressed the need for stronger security measures to ensure a safe working environment for healthcare workers.The protest witnessed participation from staff across various hospital departments, who demanded strict legal action against the accused and enhanced security at all public healthcare facilities.(With agency inputs)
