MOHALI: The photojournalist of a Hindi daily was beaten up by doctors in civil hospital; phase VI, when he was taking pictures of the hospital. A medical examination conducted at general hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh reported broken teeth and neck injuries.
However, doctors on duty refuted the allegation and wrote to health secretary and human rights commission against the journalist for harassing them by publishing unauthentic news reports about the hospital for over a month now.
The incident took place at 1 pm when Lakhwant Singh went to the hospital to take pictures of the hospital to expose the pathetic conditions under which it ran. When he was about to leave, a doctor stopped him and started questioning his presence there.
"I said nothing and tried to come out of the hospital but the doctor called up others and prevented my exit. Then they started beating me and snatched my camera to delete the photographs depicting their callousness towards patients," said Lakhwant.
The police was informed which intervened immediately. SP (city) Varinder Pal Singh said they received a complaint from the journalist and were investigating the matter before registering a case. Mohali journalists demanded immediate suspension of the doctors and registration of a case. They said it was an attack on the freedom of expression and would take up the matter with the health minister.
Lakhwant said news reports of the last few weeks which exposed poor hospital conditions and absenteeism of doctors during duty hours might have been the provocation to attack him.
Doctors alleged the journalist had been harassing them for the past few months by publishing unauthentic new reports.
Doctors, too, threatened to go on strike if the police succumbed to pressure. They asked for fair and free investigation.
