Baragada: A brutal assault on an on-duty doctor at Baragada Community Health Centre (CHC) in Odisha late on Sunday has ignited fierce outrage and safety concerns among the local medical fraternity. Dr Sudipta Rout sustained severe head injuries after being allegedly attacked with a wooden stool over a minor medical dispute.
The accused, identified as Vicky Singh, a resident of Ward No. 14 in Baragada town, has been detained by police for questioning. Son of BJP leader Pritam Singh, he is allegedly a close associate of Baragada MP Pradeep Purohit.
Recounting the terrifying ordeal, Dr Rout explained how a routine patient checkup took a violent turn. “At around 2 am last night, a man brought in a young child who was experiencing severe chest pain. I examined the child, prescribed the necessary treatment, and instructed them to proceed to the ward so the nursing staff could administer the required injection. I even sent our security personnel along with them to assist,” he said.
Shortly after, the man returned to the doctor’s cabin and insisted that he checked his blood pressure. Dr Rout requested that he wait for 10 minutes, explaining that he needed to sit quietly and rest briefly to ensure a normal, accurate reading. “He became aggressive, grabbed the stool he was sitting on, lifted it up, and struck me directly on the head. I also sustained injuries on my hands,” he added.
The entire events was captured on the hospital’s CCTV cameras.
Baragada Police arrived at the CHC shortly after the attack to secure the scene. A case has been registered against Singh and the recovered CCTV footage are being examined. Police are also conducting tests to determine if the accused was under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances during the assault.
The violent incident has triggered condemnation across the local healthcare community. Medical staff and local doctors expressed deep vulnerability, pointing out that recurring threats and physical violence severely hinder their ability to execute duties safely.
In response to the assault, representatives of the local medical association announced plans to meet the SP to formally submit a memorandum demanding absolute safety for healthcare workers. The CHC staff are calling for strict legal action against the assailant, alongside long-term protection measures, including the establishment of a permanent police outpost on the hospital premises.