Dera Bassi, India — A routine evening at the Dera Bassi civil hospital turned chaotic when two rival groups from Mukandpur village clashed violently on Friday night, escalating a street brawl to a frightening melee inside a place meant for healing. The confrontation resulted in multiple injuries and extensive damage to the hospital facilities, triggering an immediate strike by the medical staff.
The brawl reportedly originated over a longstanding feud related to allegations of illegal sand mining, a charge that local administration has denied. Upon encountering each other at the hospital, where they were presumably receiving treatment for a previous altercation, the anger reignited. The men resorted to using medical equipment, furniture, and other makeshift weapons in their altercation, leaving the hospital premises bloodied and in disarray.
Local police, informed by ongoing night patrols, responded promptly to the emergency, managing to subdue the pandemonium and apprehend the involved parties. Among the detained were Anil Kumar, also known as Honey Pandit, Naresh Kumar, Naib Ram, Angrej Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Mahipal, and Manish Kumar, all of whom face serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
This incident at the Dera Bassi Hospital highlighted critical gaps in security that put both patients and staff at risk. In the wake of the violence, a significant number of hospital doctors initiated a strike, voicing their concerns over inadequate security measures which they believe have made the hospital a recurrent site for such hazardous occurrences.
According to the doctors, the majority of whom were women on duty at the time, the attack not only endangered their lives but left them deeply traumatized. There is a crucial need for more stringent security protocols, including a better staffing of guards, as current personnel numbers are insufficient to manage such outbreaks of violence, they argued.
Addressing the incident, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh expressed his condemnation and assured the public that these acts of violence against medical staff and property will face strict legal repercussions. He promised comprehensive measures to enhance hospital security, including permanent police control room teams and improved CCTV surveillance.
Furthermore, local law enforcement authorities have committed to maintaining a constant presence near medical facilities to forestall future incidents. This includes better communication and collaboration with hospital management to ensure swift responses to any potential threats.
Senior police officials, including SP (Rural) Manpreet Singh and Dera Bassi DSP Bikramjeet Singh Brar, are actively coordinating with healthcare professionals to bolster their security and address their concerns posthaste.
This violent outbreak not only underscores the current vulnerabilities in hospital security but also has sparked a broader dialogue on ensuring the safety of healthcare environments across the region, aiming to restore faith in these institutions as safe havens for both patients and medical practitioners.