Hours after the death of a COVID-19 patient, a doctor from north-eastern India who was working in a COVID-19 ward was severely beaten by a mob. This resulted in the immediate condemnation of state officials with 24 arrests.

Dr Seuj Kumar Senapati, was fulfilling his government-mandated rural service duty and was confronted by the mob hours after the patient’s death on Wednesday. He was beaten and smashed with brooms.

A small portion of the attack was captured on the video that went viral. An alleged photo of the doctor emerged on the online platform showing deep welts and overlapping purple bruises on his back.

The country is already struggling by a second wave of Covid-19 and has put the health care system on the edge, though the infection rate is slowing down.

India recorded 134,154 new cases of coronavirus infection on Thursday. 337,989 deaths have been reported since the outbreak started. The mob allegedly consisted mainly of family members of the deceased patient and all the suspects were arrested. The Indian Medical Association, Assam chapter has urged doctors to avoid giving treatment to patients outside the facilities in protest and demand for immediate justice for the accused people.

Source: News.com.au