Kochi: A 37-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a doctor and verbally abused staff, including a doctor and nurses, at a private hospital in Perumbavoor on Wednesday night. The accused, Jissar, a resident of Airapuram, was arrested by Perumbavoor police.

According to the police, the incident occurred when local residents and relatives brought Jissar to the hospital for a medical check-up before admitting him to a de-addiction centre. The accused is notorious in the area for creating disturbances after being intoxicated. He was restrained by the relatives and forcefully taken to the hospital. Jissar reportedly became uncontrollable as soon as the restraints on his hands and legs were removed at the hospital.

In a violent outburst, he headbutted the doctor on night duty and attacked the security guard who rushed to help. He also verbally abused the nurses and continued to shout obscenities even after the police arrived at the scene. The police eventually overpowered him and removed him from the hospital premises.

Based on the complaint of the hospital staff, a case was registered against him under Section 115(1) (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 4 (violence or intimidation against doctors, nurses, or other healthcare workers) of the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012 (Amendment 2023).

The police said Jissar already has three previous cases, including one for attempted murder, registered at the Kunnathunad police station. He was produced before the court on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody.