Bengal doctors’ strike: Kin of deceased patient cite CCTV footage, claim doctors beat them too
The family of Mohammad Sayeed (75), who died at NRSMCH, also claimed that it was not only their neighbours who were guilty but also some doctors who allegedly assaulted them.
In Short
- Kin of deceased patient said junior doctors at NRS were also involved in the initial conflict
- Mohammed Sayeed's grandson cited CCTV footage and claimed that the incident was not one-sided
- He also claimed that his family is aggrieved at the injury of the intern doctor at NRSMCH
At a time when West Bengal is on the brink of a medical crisis as doctors in the state continue to protest, the kin of the patient whose death triggered the initial violence at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) said whoever is found guilty should be punished.
The family of Mohammad Sayeed (75), who died at NRSMCH, also claimed that it was not only their neighbours who were guilty but also some doctors who allegedly assaulted them, reported The Indian Express.
Sayeed's kin also said that many are trying to give the incident a communal twist. Speaking to the publication, Sayeed's grandson Taiyab Hussain claimed that doctors also beat them and that CCTV footage will prove the same.
"Every citizen should have equal access to justice. Five of our neighbours were arrested and are now in jail. What about the doctors? Let the guilty be punished, be it our neighbours or the doctors," he said.
He went on to say that the entire family is "aggrieved" at the injury of the intern doctor at NRSMCH, adding that they hope for his speedy recovery.
However, Hussain was not in favour of the strike as thousands of patients are suffering.
Violent clashes broke out soon after Sayeed died at NRSMCH, following which one junior doctor was critically injured. The kin of Sayeed explained that CCTV footage will show that doctors attacked them as well and that it was not a "one-sided" clash.
Describing the incident further, Taiyab said one of them may have pulled the hand of a doctor in the heat of the moment and it was taken as misbehaviour and heckling.
Taiyab said he apologised twice, once in the presence of policemen, but the doctors did not accept their apology and denied the family from taking home Sayeed's body. According to Taiyab, the doctors armed themselves with hockey sticks and bamboo poles. He added that all this was happening in the presence of police.
Sayeed's family members also said that many are trying to give the incident a communal tone and questioned the motive.
Meanwhile, the doctors' protest in Kolkata has entered Day 6 as medicos refused to come to terms with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who said she has accepted all the demands put forth by the junior doctors.
Doctors from all around the country including the Indian Medical Association has been strongly standing by the protesting doctors in Kolkata, who have demanded the Mamata-led government to provide proper security to doctors.
The IMA has called a nationwide strike on June 17 if Mamata Banerjee does not meet the demands put forward by protesting doctors. It remains to be seen whether the protesting doctors and Mamata Banerjee can resolve the matter and avoid a scenario which could be catastrophic for patients.