Minister surrenders his security in wake of attack on doctors by patients

Tripura Health Minister Sudip Roy Barman surrendered his police escort pushing for the safety of doctors after an on-duty surgeon was critically injured when he was thrashed by a patient party. "....I am compelled to surrender my escorts as long as adequate Police security in IGM and other District Hospitals is provided and is strengthened in G.B Hospital round the clock," Barman said in his letter to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday.

"I would like to write to you to inform that since recent past there have been many instances of abuse/man-handling/physical assault of the Doctors and other health staff. The Govt. Doctors and other staff have been feeling highly insecure working at various government hospitals," the Health Minister said. He further requested Deb to ensure that the "criminals behind such "inhumane" and barbaric acts for the last one year are taken to task.

He said, "The moral of doctors nowadays after these incidents have gone down to the abysmally low level as a fall out of those condemnable incidents and I being the Head of the family has completely failed in protecting them from these shameful deeds."

(With inputs from agencies.)