One person was arrested on charges of assaulting a doctor of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital on Saturday evening.

Ishan Jyoti Saikia of Bokakhat reportedly assaulted Dr Dipjyoti Saikia of JMCH, after his father Arup Jyoti Saikia died of COVID-19 complications on Saturday at 4 pm,

Saikia alleged that his father had died due to neglect by the hospital.

Police said that based on a complaint by authorities of JMCH, Ishan Jyoti was arrested under section 332/353 of IPC read with section 4 of Assam Medicare Service Persons and Damage to Property of Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of violence and damage to property) Act, 2011 in the state of Assam.

Police further said that a case number 1928/2020 had been registered in this connection.

Superintendent of JMCH Dr Purnima Baruah, speaking to newspersons said that Arup  Saikia, who was more than 80 years old had been COVID-19 infected and also had diabetes had been admitted on Friday morning.

“As there was no bed in the ICU, he was shifted to the ICU on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, he passed away on Saturday evening,” said Dr Baruah.

“His son, Ishan Jyoti who had accompanied the father along with another son, assaulted the doctor on duty, Dipjyoti Saikia, who has been working day and night taking care of patients,” Dr Baruah added.

Dr Baruah further said that Ishan Jyoti’s allegation of neglect should have been brought to her notice.

“We always attend to calls now and there is a person who coordinates with the attendants of the patients and doctors. So it not possible to think that he was neglected in any way,” the doctor added.

“Ishan Jyoti must have got emotional on hearing the news of his father and reacted by assaulting doctor Dipjyoti,”  the doctor further added.

Smita Bhattacharyya is Northeast Now Correspondent in Jorhat. She can be reached at: [email protected]