An ambulance driver engaged in ferrying Covid-19 patients was allegedly dragged out of his house and beaten up with rods and sticks by neighbours for returning home in defiance of their diktat.

As Asit Sarkar, 28, was on Covid duty, his neighbours feared that he would bring the disease to Barojiakur village. Asit was assaulted until he fell unconscious.

The mob did not spare Asit’s elderly parents — Ashim and Sima — either when they tried to save him. The neighbours also threatened the Sarkars with dire consequence if they lodged a police complaint.

Some other neighbours rescued the trio and took them to Santipur State General Hospital, where Asit was admitted with suspected internal haemorrhage. His parents were released after preliminary treatment. The police have started a case against four persons on the basis of a police complaint.

Superintendent of police, Ranaghat police district, V.S.R. Ananthnag, said: “We have received a complaint. We are inquiring into the issue.”

Sources said the victim was attached to a 24x7 referral government-sponsored 102 national ambulance service for pregnant women and sick infants. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, at least 12 such ambulances in Nadia have been included in the district pool.

Asit was ferrying patients from JNM Hospital and College of Medicine to SNR Carnival Covid hospital in Kalyani.

When Asit returned home on Tuesday morning, a few neighbours resisted.

Sources said they dragged out Asit from his home and started beating him with sticks and rods. “We tried to rescue him but they assaulted us also,” Ashim said.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Asit said: “Not just me, the neighbours had also threatened a few other youths involved in the ambulance service.”

“We told them about the precautions being taken while ferrying patients. But they refused to listen and beat me up today.”

A doctor attending to Asit said: “The patient has suspected multiple internal injuries. His condition is now stable.”

Medical superintendent of JNM Hospital and College of Medicine, Kalyani, Avijit Mukherjee said he had requested SDO Kalyani to look into the matter. “The drivers are playing a huge role in fighting Covid and if they are brutalised in this manner, there will be no one to ferry the patients to hospitals.”