Khurda: A doctor of Khurda district headquarters hospital who was allegedly abducted by the relatives of an infant who died on Thursday, returned safe after his abductors dropped him off at the bypass road near Batamangala Temple.
Sources said, the doctor identified as Pradeep Das is a Paediatrician at the hospital. As per allegations, an ill infant from Goudaput village under Khurda sadar police limits was brought to the hospital for check up. The infant after being administered primary treatment was referred to Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack. However, the infant died while being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
Afterwards, the relatives of the infant went to the government quarter of the doctor and started threatening him following which they forcibly abducted the doctor on a motorcycle.
“They started threatening the doctor and then dragged him outside from his chair and took him on a bike,” said the pediatrician’s cook.
“When the patient’s health condition worsened after 2-4 hours, I referred them to take the patient to Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack. However, the infant died on the way and angry over the incident they came to me and entered my quarter and started threatening me. Then they dragged me outside and took me away on their motorcycle. I felt like I was being kidnapped,” said Das.
Soon after reports, the police reached the spot and with the help of a special team sealed off the exit points of the city and launched a search operation.
However, after two hours of the incident the abductors reportedly dropped off the doctor on the bypass road near Batamangala Temple.
The doctor who himself is a heart patient, was admitted to the hospital. On the other hand, the employees of the Khurda district hospital launched a protest against repeated incidents of attacks on doctors and other employees. The hospital employees sat on a dharna demanding an out-post on the premises of the hospital.
“The Collector should come here and give us written assurance that the miscreants should be arrested within 24 hours. We also demand a police out-post on the hospital premises,” said Rakesh Khandayatray, one of the protesting medical employee.
“We are conducting an investigation based on the report filed with us. Appropriate action will be taken against the culprits,” said Khurda additional SP, Pratap Kumar Swain.