Karnataka Doctor Assaulted by Relatives After Minor Dies of Dengue

Resident doctors in Karnataka have written to CM BS Yeddyurappa, demanding the government set up a legal cell.

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(Photo: PTI)

In another incident of frontline workers being attacked, Dr Deepak was assaulted by four people, including a minor, on Monday, 31 May, in Karnataka’s Tarikere town in Chikkamagaluru district. The 50-year-old doctor is now receiving treatment in Shivamogga.

The district Superintendent of Police MH Akshay was quoted as saying, “Four people from the same taluka were arrested within 18 hours of the crime taking place. Dr Deepak was treating a 6-year-old child, Bhuvan, for dengue. After the child developed complications, he was shifted to Shivamogga where he later died. Of the four held, one is the child's relative, the rest are friends," NDTV reported.

The arrested persons are Venugopal (23), Nitin (23), Venkatesh (23) and the minor boy. The police have also recovered two swords from the accused, The Hindu reported.

Resident Doctors Demand Legal Cell

In order to deal with such attacks, resident doctors in Karnataka have written a letter to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa demanding the state government set up a legal cell.

The letter reads, “Doctors across Karnataka are putting their best to bring out the best health care facility possible. However, it is sad to note that there are more than 12 registered incidents of assault on healthcare workers in the past 8-10 months while the unnoticed, unregistered assaults, and also incidents of verbal abuse, threats, and hampering of duties, can amount to hundreds.”

(With inputs from The Hindu and NDTV)