COVID-19: Man Arrested For Assaulting Safdarjung Hospital Doctors

The doctors approached to the Hauz Khas police, following which a case was registered and the man was arrested.

Medical workers attend to a suspected coronavirus patient. Image used for representation.

(Photo: PTI)

A 42-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, 8 April, for allegedly assaulting two women resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital after he accused them of "spreading" COVID-19 in the Gautam Nagar area of New Delhi, according to police.

The police arrested the accused, Sanjiv Sharma on the complaint of a 29-year-old resident doctor, a Gautam Nagar area resident, who had stepped out with her sister to buy fruits and vegetables in her neighbourhood market, said an official of the Hauz Khas police station, where the case was registered.

“We have registered a case and arrested the accused in connection with the incident,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Atul Kumar Thakur said.

“We were buying fruits when a man started to shout at us to maintain distance. He blamed us for spreading coronavirus and hit us,” said one of the two female doctors.

The Delhi Police Public Relations Officer, MS Randhawa, issued a video statement, ensuring full support and protection to the doctors who are leading the fight against the COVID-19.

“We are taking strong action against people who discriminate or harass the medical professionals. We have reviewed and increased the security at Safdarjung and other major hospitals,”

MS Randhawa, PRO, Delhi Police

Meanwhile, ANI reported quoting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as saying, "I'd like to warn people who misbehave with doctors/nurses that it won't be tolerated. They'll be given strictest punishment."

Earlier Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain had also warned citizens not to discriminate against doctors, paramedics and healthcare workers.

“Legal action will be taken against those who discriminate against doctors, paramedics and healthcare workers.”

Satyendra Jain, Delhi Health Minister

Safdarjung Hospital Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) president Manish said the incident happened around 9.30 pm when the two had stepped out of their house to buy fruits in the area.

The two doctors of the central government hospital are not on COVID-19 duty, he said.

"A local resident, who was in the vicinity, asked them to stay away from the fruit stall, saying you doctors bring the infection from the hospital and are spreading it here," Manish told PTI.

When the doctors sought to reason with him, the man allegedly twisted their hands and pushed them back and fled, he said.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)