Patient assaults woman doctor at Kharar civil hospital; arrested

An on-duty woman medical officer was allegedly assaulted by a patient at the government sub-divisional hospital in Kharar, Punjab. According to reports, the patient began arguing with the doctor during a medical examination in the emergency ward, then grabbed her by the hair, pulled her to the ground, and tore her clothes. When other hospital employees intervened, the accused allegedly attacked them as well and vandalised property inside the facility.

Hospital staff managed to overpower the accused after nearly an hour of disruption and handed him over to the police. The suspect was identified in reports as Ranjitpal Singh, a resident of Hira Singh Nagar in Kharar. Meanwhile, the family of the accused claimed that he suffered an adverse reaction to incorrect medication and alleged medical negligence and verbal aggression by the doctor, though police stated these claims remained unverified and subject to investigation.

Following the incident, law enforcement registered a case at the Kharar City police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—covering voluntary hurt, criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe her, assault on a public servant, and obstruction of a public servant—alongside provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The accused was subsequently arrested, while investigators reviewed CCTV footage to confirm the sequence of events.

The episode triggered widespread safety concerns among medical professionals in the state. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) condemned the alleged assault, highlighted that no security personnel were deployed at the hospital at the time, and demanded the immediate deployment of security guards across sub-divisional hospitals in Punjab by a set deadline.

Not yet reported: The reports do not detail any subsequent court proceedings or the ultimate legal outcome for the accused.