Agartala, October 5: Resident doctors of GB Pant Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College on Monday temporarily suspended their protest and pen-down strike after the Health Department and police assured them of action over a video that allegedly made false and one-sided claims against a senior resident doctor.
The protest began after a video involving a patient was circulated on social media. The resident doctors alleged that the video contained defamatory claims against the doctor and raised concerns over patient and doctor privacy within hospital premises.
The doctors staged a demonstration and raised slogans demanding action against those responsible for circulating the video.
Following discussions with Health Department and police officials, as well as the college administration, the Resident Doctors' Association decided to suspend the agitation after receiving assurances on its demands.
An association representative said officials informed them that a case had been registered after obtaining permission from the court and that the person primarily involved had been taken to a police station for questioning.
Additional SP, West Tripura, Dhruva Nath, said police had received a complaint regarding the video and, as the matter was non-cognisable, permission was obtained from the court before taking up the case.
"Two days ago, a video containing completely false claims against our resident doctors was circulated and there was an attempt to tarnish the image of the hospital," Nath said.
He said the police social media monitoring cell was working on the matter and had approached social media platforms seeking removal of the video and related content.
"The main person involved has been brought to the police station for interrogation. Further investigation is in progress," Nath said.
Additional Secretary of the Health Department Saju Vaheed said the original content had already been withdrawn through the cyber cell and action would be taken against further distribution and circulation.
The doctors also sought strict action against unauthorised photography and videography inside hospital premises, particularly in sensitive areas such as emergency and trauma care.
Vaheed said hospital guidelines already prohibited photography and videography but added that a complete ban on mobile phones required further discussion, given the large number of patients and attendants visiting the emergency trauma care centre.
Chief Minister Manik Saha said the hospital administration had taken the decision after considering the issues involved.
The doctors said they would monitor the action taken by the administration and police before deciding their further course. They also planned to hold a symbolic march before suspending the agitation for the day.
