Govt doctor thrashes woman patient

A video showing a government doctor beating up a woman patient here in front of policemen, after accusing her of abusing and trying to hit him, has gone viral on social media, prompting the police to book him.

Khushaldeep Singh, an ENT specialist at the civil hospital, was booked under relevant sections of the IPC after the video surfaced on Friday, Superintendent of Police (Ferozepur) Ajmer Singh Bath, said.

"We are trying to identify the woman who was thrashed by the doctor and we will record her statement," he said on Saturday.

In the video, Khushaldeep can be seen pulling the woman by her hair, slapping and kicking her in front of police personnel at the hospital.

The doctor could be heard using abusive words in the video.

Khushaldeep, however, accused the woman of using abusive language and trying to hit him.

He said the woman had been visiting the hospital for the last 10 to 15 days and regularly demanding medicines from him.

"She seemed to be mentally unstable. When I denied giving her medicines, she used abusive language and tried to hit me.

"My turban got displaced and then I lost my temper. I agree that I should not have thrashed her like this, but this happened in a fit of rage," Khushaldeep said.

The Ferozepur civil surgeon has been asked to submit a report on the incident within 24 hours, officials said.

Congress MLA, Ferozepur (Urban), Parminder Singh Pinki, said no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

"It is indeed a matter of shame for all of us and such actions against women cannot be tolerated", Pinki said.