Shinde Sena Corporator Ramesh Mhatre Arrested After Viral Video Of Assault On Female Doctor

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) councillor Ramesh Mhatre has been arrested after a purported viral video showed him assaulting a female doctor and other medical staff at the KDMC government hospital in Thane.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening at the Shastri Nagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Dombivali.

On Tuesday night, police registered a case against Mhatre and five others. Detailing the incident, the hospital officials said that Srishti Bawiskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe had advised relatives of a newborn baby to take the child to another hospital as the baby needed urgent care and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the KDMC government hospital was already full.

Relatives alerted Mhatre instead, who rushed to the hospital with his companions. Footage from the hospital shows Mhatre approaching from behind the doctor.

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While she was holding a mobile phone, Mhatre attacked her from behind. Mhatre and his supporters then assaulted other staff members. A video of the incident went viral on social media.

After the controversy escalated, Mhatre claimed that he did not hit the female doctor. According to a report by NDTV, he added that his action saved two lives and accused the doctor of mishandling the patient.

Linking the action to 'fight for justice', Mhatre added that he followed what Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had taught him. Before Mhatre, three accused were arrested in connection with the matter.

Doctors, medical staff hold strike

The incident not only sparked a social media frenzy but also triggered criticism by the doctors and nurses in the government hospitals and health centres across the state.

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On Tuesday, the medical body launched an indefinite strike, suspending OPD services across government healthcare facilities.