2 doctors of Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, out to buy groceries, assaulted for ‘spreading coronavirus’

New Delhi, April 9

A 42-year-old man was arrested on late Wednesday evening for allegedly assaulting two women resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital after accusing them of "spreading" COVID-19 in Gautam Nagar area, said police.

The police swung into action and managed to arrest the accused on the complaint of 29-year-old resident doctor, a Gautam Nagar area resident, who had stepped out with her sister to buy fruits and vegetables in her neighbourhood market, said an official of the Hauz Khas police station, where the case was registered.

"We have registered a case and arrested the accused in connection with the incident," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Atul Kumar Thakur said.

Earlier Safdarjung Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) president Manish said the incident happened around 9.30 pm when the two had stepped out of their house to buy fruits in the area.

The two doctors of the central government hospital are not on COVID-19 duty, he said.

"A local resident, who was in the vicinity, asked them to stay away from the fruit stall, saying you doctors bring infection from the hospital and spread it here," Manish told PTI.

 When the doctors sought to reason with him, the man allegedly twisted their hands and pushed them back and fled, he said, adding they "approached police in this regard"      

Corroborating RDA president's version, police said, the incident occurred in Gulmohar Enclave area, where the two women had gone to buy fruits.

On seeing them, the man began making remarks on the need of social distancing, accusing doctors like them of are spreading infection in residential areas.

As the two women retorted that they knew well the importance of social distancing and sought to reason with them, the man got aggressive and abusive, saying he would get a case registered against them. 

When the two women were about to leave following the spat, the man assaulted them and even touched the 29-year-old woman her inappropriately, said police, adding the man left the place after that.

Both the victims were medically examined, said police. PTI 

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