Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has criticized Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre after his arrest for attacking a woman doctor and other staff at a hospital in Thane district, according to state Industries Minister Uday Samant on Thursday.
A video of the incident spread widely and caused public anger. It showed Mhatre striking a doctor on the head with a register and hitting a woman doctor on her hand.
Speaking to reporters, Samant stated the party position is clear that assaulting a woman doctor is unacceptable. Several Shiv Sena members and the health minister have also condemned the attack.
Samant noted that the deputy chief minister had properly rebuked the corporator and that no political interference occurred, indicating the action was not supported.
The assault happened on Monday evening at Shastri Nagar Hospital under the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Doctors advised relatives of a newborn to transfer the infant due to lack of space in the neonatal unit. Police reported that the relatives contacted Mhatre, who arrived with aides and assaulted the doctors.
Mhatre initially denied striking the woman doctor and said the footage was misleading. Opposition figures and some party leaders, including Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, denounced the attack. Thane MP Naresh Mhaske said the Shiv Sena leadership had issued a show-cause notice to Mhatre. Three associates were also arrested in the case.
