Nayagarh: The police and a doctor of Nayagarh district headquarters hospital here had to face the wrath of an angry mob Friday, alleging medical negligence in a minor boy’s death.
The agitators, who had beaten the doctor, did not even spare the police leading to tension for hours. The mob resorted to a road blockade demanding action against the doctor.
Demanding compensation for the bereaved family the agitators protested by placing the body on National Highway-57. The vehicular movement came to a standstill with hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.
The deceased was identified as Rakesh Nayak (13), son of Nibasi and Draupadi Nayak of Damasahi under Ranpur block in Nayagarh district. Rakesh was a Class VIII student and only son with three elder sisters, sources said.
A snake had slithered into the house and bit Rakesh while he was sleeping Friday morning. Family members with the help of neighbours rushed him to Nayagarh district headquarters hospital. Although the boy was brought to the hospital at 6am, no doctors attended him till 8am. Later, the doctor Ajay Kumar Bahinipati checked the boy and declared him dead and sent the body for post-mortem.
Family members alleged that the boy was healthy and could talk while he was brought to the hospital. They accused the doctor for delaying the treatment.
The family members later took the body and staged a demonstration. They assaulted the Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) Gouraprasad Mishra when he tried to intervene. The mob also assaulted Town police ASI Narsingh Bahinipati and tore apart his uniform when he asked them stop the agitation.
Later, Nayagarh tehsildar Pratap Chandra Beunra reached the spot and brought the situation under control. He provided a compensation of Rs 10,000 from Red Cross and assured assistance of Rs 4 lakh.
When contacted, Mishra said the boy had died before he was brought to the hospital. No police complaint was lodged in this connection yet. PNN
