A Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha state executive member has been accused of allegedly molesting a woman doctor and threatening to shoot her inside a government medical college in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, triggering protests by doctors and a warning of a statewide strike if he is not arrested.
The accused, Anil Srivastava, also known as Anil Pipra, and his associate have been booked by the Sagar Police under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said efforts are underway to arrest both the accused.
According to the complaint, the incident took place in the early hours of Thursday at Bundelkhand Medical College (BMC), where a female patient, Lakshmi Tiwari, was brought to the emergency department at around 2 am.
Hospital staff alleged that repeated phone calls regarding the patient's treatment had been made even before she arrived at the hospital. During the course of treatment, two men accompanying the patient allegedly began misbehaving with doctors and nursing staff.
The woman doctor alleged that when she objected to their behaviour, Anil Srivastava attempted to touch her inappropriately and later threatened to shoot her after she stepped outside the hospital premises.
Nursing staff also accused the two men of intimidating hospital employees and creating a disturbance inside the emergency ward.
Confirming the registration of the FIR, Additional Superintendent of Police Narendra Solanki said, "A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on the complaint of the female doctor. Considering the seriousness of the allegations, efforts are being made to arrest both accused at the earliest."
Responding to the allegations, BJP Yuva Morcha state president Shyam Tailor said, "At present, this matter is not in my knowledge. I will first ascertain the facts and only then be in a position to comment."
The incident sparked protests by doctors and hospital staff, who suspended work and blocked the main entrance of Bundelkhand Medical College, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. The protest disrupted medical services for several hours, leaving patients and their attendants waiting as emergency operations were affected.
Doctors alleged that despite informing the police and hospital administration immediately after the incident, the accused managed to leave the premises before any action was taken. According to hospital staff, security personnel escorted the patient and those accompanying her outside the hospital campus before the police could intervene. They further alleged that police personnel left the spot without taking immediate action against the accused.
Medical professionals said the incident had once again raised concerns over the safety of healthcare workers, particularly women doctors working night shifts.
Following assurances from senior police and administrative officials, the doctors temporarily withdrew their protest.
However, the Madhya Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) warned that if the accused are not arrested within 24 hours, junior doctors across the state will launch a statewide work boycott.
Security has since been tightened across the Bundelkhand Medical College campus as police continue their search for the two accused.
