Fights during Ganesh Chaturthi often escalate due to disagreements over Ganesh idol placement, rituals, or processions, fuelled by strong religious sentiments. (Representational image: Unsplash)  
MedBound Blog

Doctors Clash over Ganesh Idol Installation at Ahmedabad Hospital, FIR Filed

Resident doctors threatened to kill each other over a dispute about Ganesh idol installation

Yash Kiran Kamble

Ahmedabad: On September 4, two doctors engaged in a verbal and physical altercation over the installation of Ganesh idols within the hospital premises. One of the involved doctors was a former student of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run NHL Medical College. An FIR was lodged at the Ellisbridge police station.

The CEO of the hospital commented on the incident, stating that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the hospital administration and its dean. Dr. Cherry K. Shah, the dean, confirmed that a compromise had been reached between the two doctors involved.

According to police reports, no arrests have been made so far, but the investigation is ongoing. The complainant, RMO Dr. Kuldeep Joshi, recounted the events leading up to the altercation. Dr. Joshi stated that at around 11:45 pm, while making his rounds, he received an urgent call from Dr. Jay Raja regarding the incident. Upon rushing to the ground floor, Dr. Joshi found several resident doctors from NHL Medical College gathered, including Ay Hathila, Marut Amrutiya, and Pushparaj Chudasama.

No arrests have been made as yet but an investigation into the matter is underway.
BD Jhilariya, Police inspector

The resident doctors informed Dr. Joshi that they had convened a meeting at 9:00 pm on the first floor of the hospital to discuss the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and a blood donation camp. During the meeting, they received a call from Malik Thakkar, a former NHL Medical College student, who insisted that all resident doctors meet him at the hostel. However, the residents refused, explaining that they were in the middle of a meeting at the hospital.

Following the refusal, Thakkar, accompanied by Dev Padhi, barged into the meeting. Thakkar demanded that only one Ganesh idol be installed within the hospital premises. The residents disagreed, stating that they intended to set up their own idol as well. This disagreement escalated into a heated argument, during which Thakkar and Padhi allegedly threatened to kill the resident doctors.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates unity and devotion, yet conflicts sometimes arise over idol placement or rituals, driven by pride. Such disputes contradict the festival's spirit of harmony and spiritual joy. (Representational image: Unsplash)

The FIR filed at the Ellisbridge police station outlines the altercation and has invoked sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 296(b) (uttering obscenities), and 54 (abetting when an offense is committed) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police have confirmed that while no arrests have been made yet, the investigation continues.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)

India’s Triumph Over Polio: A Public Health Milestone

GTB Doctor Urges CAQM to Exempt Vehicles for People with Disabilities

When Stress Hijacks Your Memories, Why Safe Feels Scary!

Severe COVID-19 Infection May Lead to Tumor Shrinkage, New Study Finds

First mRNA Norovirus Vaccine Enters Trial to Combat Global Health Crisis