Members of Bargarh Sambadik Sangha led by its President Shankar Ballav Mishra called on the Bargarh District Collector Bhabagrahi Mishra on Friday demanding arrest of pediatrician Dr Prafulla Patra who runs a nursing home at Khajurtikra in Bargarh town for allegedly misbehaving and assaulting four media personnel who went to seek relief for a poor patient on Tuesday.
It is learnt that the District Collector has assured the scribes that law of land will prevail and discussed the matter with the Chief District Medical Officer. The District Collector was apprised that although Dr. Patra has been posted in the district Kalahandi, he has been on leave and running the Nursing Home. The District Collector has directed for an assessment of the facilities available and submit him a report over the issue.
Reports said that one Kishore Chandra Meher of village Kandlei in Balangir district had admitted his seven-month old daughter in Child Care Nursing Hone rune by Dr. Patra on April 27. However, after 14-days when the condition of the girl child did not improve, Dr. Patra referred her to VSS Medical at Burla. During discharge, Meher was asked to cough up Rs. 27,000 and demanded bill hoping to get some aid from the district administration. However, Meher was come later and collect the bill.
After the child was discharged from VSS Medical following recovery, Meher revisited the Nursing Home for bill and despite repeated visit was finally told that no bill will be given to him. Harassed Meher met the local scribes and four of them volunteered to get him relief and called on Dr. Patra to seek the bill on Tuesday evening.
However, instead of handing over the bill, Dr. Patra, his wife along with their son Evan Patra attacked the scribes. While the scribes have lodged complaint with the police over the assault to the police, Dr. Patra in his complaint has accused the scribes of molesting his wife.
