Kasaragod: Around 400 doctors and staff at Kasaragod General Hospital — now labelled as the Kasaragod Government Medical College Hospital — struck work for an hour on Friday morning in protest against the assault on a female doctor and her patient inside the hospital’s casualty section on Thursday. 

The strike began at 9.30 am and ended at 10.30 am. “Staff at the token counter, pharmacy, laboratory, and outpatient departments joined the protest. In all, 45 doctors, 350 nurses and staff, and 13 house surgeons took part in the protest,” said Dr Arun Ram, president of the Hospital Staff Union. “We kept only the casualty functioning during that hour,” he said.

The doctors met District Police Chief B V Vijay Bharath Reddy and conveyed their concerns about workplace safety, said Dr Arun Ram, who is also the Taluk President of Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association.

He said that despite the seriousness of the incident, police have not yet arrested the accused. “We are told he has gone to Mangaluru,” he said.

Kasaragod Town Station House Officer - Inspector Nalinakshan P said an FIR was registered against one Shanid under Section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty.” If convicted, offenders can face up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. The offence is bailable and non-cognisable.

The incident took place around noon on Thursday when a group — a father, his sons, and some relatives — arrived at the hospital after a brawl in Anangoor in Kasaragod town. One of the injured was being treated in the casualty, while another relative waited outside.

At one point, the man waiting outside told a police officer present in the area that he was feeling dizzy. The officer, unaware that the man was part of the same feuding group, helped him get medical attention. As soon as he entered the casualty, the man spotted his rival relative being treated and suddenly kicked him from behind. The patient fell on the female medical officer attending to him, injuring her.

“She suffered a contusion,” said Dr Arun Ram. The doctors saw this as a breach of the workplace security of the staff and the patient. 

Initially, the doctors refused to treat the man who kicked the patient, but after talks, they relented to attend to him. 

On being informed, the Kasaragod Town Police reached the hospital and took the statements of the doctors and staff. “We are yet to arrest the accused. The investigation is going on,” said the inspector.