At Araluguppe Mallegowda District Hospital, the doctors and staff staged a protest closing the outpatient department after a woman allegedly assaulted a doctor during an altercation on Tuesday. The incident occurred when Dr. Venkatesh B.S. was attending to a patient named Irfan, who had arrived at the emergency unit with injuries from a scuffle.
According to hospital sources, a group of Irfan's relatives gathered around, causing a commotion. When Dr. Venkatesh asked them to leave the room, an argument ensued. In a fit of rage, one of the patient's relatives, identified as Taslim, allegedly threw a shoe at the doctor and grabbed him by his collar.
In response to the attack, the hospital staff and doctors shut down the outpatient services and organized a protest in front of the district surgeon’s office, demanding immediate action against those involved. The district surgeon formally reported the incident to the police, citing abuse, assault, and threats to the doctor's life. He also requested legal action against the perpetrators and called for enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of hospital staff.
The incident drew attention on social media, with BJP MLC C.T. Ravi urging Home Minister G. Parameshwara to ensure swift action against the accused. "Immediate arrest is needed to protect the medical staff," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police Vikram Amathe confirmed that an FIR had been registered and the woman involved in the assault had been arrested. "After assuring the protesting doctors that a case had been filed and an arrest made, they agreed to call off the protest," he said.