Junior doctors of Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) resorted to cease-work for nearly 15 hours since Sunday night after some of them were manhandled by relatives of a patient who had been taken there after a snakebite died.

Sources said Ruplal Ghosh, 40, of Noldubi in Malda had been bitten by a snake on Sunday evening. When his condition deteriorated, his relatives took him to the MMCH for treatment.

“Although the doctors on duty put in their best efforts, the patient died. When the doctors pronounced the patient dead, the relatives turned violent and attacked the doctors. Some interns, who were in the ward, were also beaten. The patient’s relatives damaged furniture at the hospital,” said Puranjay Saha, the vice-principal of MMCH.

The law enforcers from the police outpost on the MMCH premises dispersed the mob.

The junior doctors started a demonstration around 9pm to protest against the attack and the vandalism and announced an indefinite cease-work. There are 99 junior
doctors at the MMCH and almost all of them joined the protests.

“We are feeling insecure. It is unfortunate that the patient died even though we made our best efforts. Hence, the attack on some of us is unacceptable. The authorities should ensure our safety and the police should nab all those who were involved in the attack,” said Akash Dutta, a protester.

As the cease-work continued, Baivab Choudhary, the additional district magistrate (general), and Saha, the vice-principal, held a meeting with interns and junior doctors on Monday morning. Some police officers were also present at the meeting.

“It has been decided that the police will regularly patrol the hospital campus. The internal security system of the hospital will be reviewed,” said Saha.

After the meeting, the cease-work was withdrawn.

Four persons — Sanatan Ghosh, Chand Ghosh, and Bapan Ghosh of Noldubi and Raju Ghosh of Kamlabari, which is under the jurisdiction of Englishbazar police station — have been arrested in connection with the assault and the vandalism.

“Investigation is in progress to find out who else was involved in the attack,” said a police officer.