KATHMANDU, Feb 11: Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has demanded action against the security personnel involved in beating Dr Janith Singh, a surgeon at the National Trauma Center for walking during presidential escort on Friday. NMA has given a 24-hour deadline to take action against the security personnel.

The NMA in a press release issued on Friday evening warned that it would be forced to stage a protest if police personnel who beat the doctor were not prosecuted.

According to the NMA, it is a very unfortunate and indecent act for a doctor working in a sensitive field like health care to be seriously injured by the police despite showing his identity card while leaving home after completing the surgery.

In a statement released by the association, it is said that “Nepal Medical Association strongly condemns this type of unnatural and highly reprehensible activity by the security personnel, and demand the strictest legal action against the guilty security personnel involved in the incident in accordance with the 9th Amendment Act 2079BS regarding the safety of health workers and health institutions.

Similarly, in the event that no legal action has been taken against the guilty within 24 hours, NMA will organize an emergency meeting of the Central Executive Committee on Saturday and will announce the protest programs.  

On Friday, Dr Janith Singh, a surgeon at the National Trauma Center, has been seriously injured after security personnel deployed for the security of the president hit him with batons while walking on the road during the presidential escort.

According to Director of the Trauma Center Dr Rudra Marasini, Dr Singh had shown his identity card saying that he was a doctor and was going to Bir Hospital. “However, the security personnel took away his card and hit him with sticks instead. He is seriously injured,” said Dr Marasini.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson DIG Posh Raj Pokharel defended the role of police saying that the doctor was the first to start physical assault as the police personnel stopped them while performing their duty. “As the argument heated, there was a situation in which the doctor had to be arrested,” said DIG Pokharel, adding that the police resorted to physical action after the doctor kicked them.

He further said that the Valley Police Office, Rani Pokhari will further investigate the incident. 

 
• Nepal_Medical_Association
 
• Dr_Janith_Singh
 
• presidential_escort