Staff of private hospital in Patiala thrash patient of depression; arrested

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 24

Two staff members of a private hospital were arrested by Patiala police on Monday for thrashing a patient suffering from depression.

The police have booked the accused under Section 323 and 342 of the Indian Penal Code.

The accused have been identified as Gurdeep Singh and Mohammed Rahul — staff members of Prime Hospital. It has been learned that the patient, a resident of Devigarh town of Patiala, was admitted to the ICU ward of the hospital on August 20.

The patient was allegedly beaten by a hospital attendant on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The entire incident was captured on CCTV, which subsequently went viral.

The matter came to the fore when the patient complained of pain in the stomach and narrated the incident to his relative the next morning. Consequently, the family members filed a complaint to the police. Thereafter, the patient was admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital from where he was discharged after first aid and a medical check-up.

Paramjeet Kumar, uncle of the patient, said: “The action should also be taken against the hospital. It was a planned strategy to thrash the patient so as to keep him in the hospital for a longer period, just to mint money. The license of the hospital should be revoked.”

Meanwhile, Sukhwinder Singh Gill, Station House Officer, Civil Lines, said: “We have arrested the two staff members of Prime Hospital. The investigation has already started and will arrest if someone else is found responsible for the act.”