Two doctors were physically assaulted at Thane's Shastri Nagar Hospital after advising a newborn’s family to shift the infant elsewhere. Police have filed a FIR against Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre and five accomplices.
On Monday evening, a violent episode unfolded at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Thane, Maharashtra, when two physicians and several hospital staff were attacked. The assault stemmed from a medical recommendation that a newborn be transferred to another facility because the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) had no vacant beds.
Background and Incident Details
Doctors Srishti Bawiskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe informed the infant’s relatives that, due to lack of space, the baby needed to be moved to a better‑equipped centre. Frustrated, the family contacted Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, who arrived at the hospital, verbally abused the doctors and proceeded to strike them. Dr. Salunkhe sustained injuries, while other staff members were also shoved.
Political Fallout
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) swiftly condemned the act, warning that all private clinics and hospitals in the region would shut down on Wednesday if a First Information Report (FIR) was not lodged immediately. Under mounting public pressure, the police registered a case on Tuesday night against Mhatre, four male supporters and one female associate under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including assault on a public servant, criminal intimidation and rioting. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and health minister Shrikant Shinde denounced the assault, pledging strict legal action against the perpetrators.
Medical Community’s Response
IMA’s Kalyan‑Dombivli units, along with a delegation of civic workers’ union, met KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal, demanding the immediate arrest of Mhatre and his allies. Hospital personnel staged a work‑stop protest on Tuesday, disrupting services and highlighting the precarious safety of health workers. Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray took to X, questioning Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on whether he would tolerate such “goondagiri” from an allied party member.
Legal Proceedings and Future Outlook
Assistant Commissioner of Police Suhas Nemade confirmed that investigations are ongoing, though no arrests have been made yet. The accused face charges ranging from assault on a public servant to unlawful assembly and rioting. The episode has sparked a broader debate on the protection of medical personnel, the misuse of political clout, and the responsibility of the state to ensure a safe environment for healthcare delivery.
