Attacked on duty, Bhuj hosp docs strike work

By Kulsum Yusuf

Demanding a safe working environment, resident doctors of Kutch's biggest government hospital went on a sudden strike on Wednesday night. The medicos at Adani Foundation-run GK General Hospital in Bhuj decided to launch the protest after some of them were roughed up not once but twice by a self-proclaimed social worker.

The police lodged a complaint and arrested accused Hasan Sumra, but the doctors have refused to resume work till their safety was guaranteed. Hospital administrator Shardul Chaurasia said, "We are negotiating with the doctors and everything will be normal soon."

Revealing the incident that led to the protest, Dr Chaurasia said, "Some days ago, Sumra accompanied patients Abdul Gani Jarang and Mehboob Ali Khoja who had met with an accident. He began abusing doctors. We intervened and calmed the situation. However, he returned on Sunday and abused Dr Kush who was on duty in the emergency department. He came to the hospital with a couple of men on Tuesday night and attacked Dr Sumeet who was on duty in the orthopaedics department. When the other doctors intervened, he abused them, too." He added, "Following this, the resident doctors went on strike at 10 30 pm on Wednesday night. We try to provide safety to the 200 resident doctors. We have even lodged an FIR against Sumra at Bhuj B-Division police station."