Doc lynching: IMA calls for 24-hour halt to medical services

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Assam wing announced a 24-hour withdrawal of medical services across the state on Tuesday.

The announcement came in protest against the killing of a 73-year old doctor, Deben Dutta by a mob of 250 in Jorhat district on Saturday.

While speaking to the Millennium Post, Santanu Sen, national president of IMA said apart from Assam, it will observe a day of solidarity and silent mourning across the country. "Black badges and solemn mourning at 11 am on that day should be held in all the branches of Indian Medical Association. Candlelight vigil may be organised in the evening," an official statement mentioned. A delegation of doctors consisting of IMA chief Santanu Sen, Past HSG R N Tandon and Ramesh Dutta, finance secretary will also visit Jorhat to protest. Sen to meet the family of Dr Dutta on Wednesday, he confirmed.

Meanwhile, 21 people have been arrested by the Assam police. Somra Majhi, the 33-year-old worker, was taken to the hospital in a critical state around noon on Saturday. At the time, Dr Dutta was not at the hospital and the pharmacist was also on leave. The nurse on duty administered saline.

The worker died shortly afterwards. At 3:30 pm, when Dutta arrived, angry workers thrashed him and locked him up in a room in the hospital. The mob allegedly even cut him with glass shards.

He was rescued by the police but he died on the way to the hospital.