Assam: Mob beats 73-year-old doctor to death, 21 detained

The deceased doctor was identified as Dr. Deben Dutta, one of the senior-most practitioners in Jorhat.

He retired a long time ago but continued working. On Saturday, when he was out, a worker named Somra Majhi, was brought to the garden hospital.

Majhi was employed as a temporary worker at Teok Tea Estate. In the absence of Dr. Dutta, the nurse administered preliminary treatment.

Unfortunately, Majhi couldn't be saved. Later, a mob, comprising at least 250 people, unleashed their "anger" on Dr. Dutta.

"They hit him and cut him with glass shards. He suffered head and leg injuries," said Jorhat SP NV Chandrakant.

Police rescued Dr. Dutta, took him to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), but he died en route.

Chandrakant confirmed the detention of 21.

About Majhi's death, secretary of Jorhat leg of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), Nilesh Gond, said he fell in a bathroom, possibly due to stroke.

"The doctor came 30 minutes after the patient was brought in but by then Majhi was already dead. That infuriated the workers and they assaulted him. We condemn the violence," he added, revealing that the aforementioned 21 belong to tea tribe community.

The tea garden is owned by Kolkata-based Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited. In a lock-out notice, the company said all executives "feared for their lives".

"The murderous crowd didn't allow any medical attention to be given to the Senior Medical Officer and they also prevented the ambulance from reaching him for about an hour," the company added.

The lock-out will continue until the situation improves.

The unfortunate and totally despicable assault on Dr. Dutta provoked condemnation from bodies like Indian Medical Association (IMA) and West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF).

"Dr. Dutta was a physician who had involved himself in the service of his community even after retirement! The people he served thanked him by murdering him in front of police," WBDF said in a statement on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Assam unit of IMA said this was the third major assault on doctors serving in tea gardens, in recent times.

IMA said all medical services, barring emergency, will be suspended for 24 hours from 6 AM on Tuesday, September 3, till 6 AM on Wednesday.

The body has also called for a candlelight procession at 7 PM tomorrow.