Munish Sood
Mandi
Public anger over the d*eath of a young woman following childbirth at the Regional Hospital, Kullu, reached a boiling point on Wednesday as hundreds of people braved heavy rain to stage a massive protest at Dhalpur Ground before marching to the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP), accusing the administration of “selective justice” and a complete failure of the system.
The central allegation raised by the protesters was that even after 18 days of the maternal death, no FIR has been registered against the suspended doctors and nursing staff accused of negligence, whereas FIRs against social activists leading the agitation were registered within a day. Calling it a “mockery of justice,” the protesters questioned whether the law functions differently for government officials and ordinary citizens.
Led by social activists Banti Saraji and Sanjay Chauhan, the protesters demanded immediate registration of criminal cases against the doctors and hospital staff named by the victim’s family. They also sought withdrawal of FIRs lodged against those spearheading the movement.
After nearly two hours of protest at Dhalpur Ground, the demonstrators marched towards the SP Office, where heavy police deployment prevented them from entering the premises. The deceased woman’s husband and family members also addressed the gathering, demanding justice and accountability.
During a meeting with SP Madan Kumar, the protesters alleged that instead of taking action against those responsible for the woman’s death, the administration had chosen to target voices seeking justice. They also objected to the suspension of the social media accounts of Banti Saraji and Sanjay Chauhan, alleging attempts to suppress public dissent.
Responding to the delegation, the SP stated that the FIR against the activists had been registered on complaints filed by doctors and that the police had sought medical opinion from the Director of Health Services. He said the Additional SP was conducting the investigation and appropriate action would follow once the inquiry was completed.
The explanation, however, failed to satisfy the protesters, who repeatedly questioned why no criminal case had been registered against the suspended doctors despite the passage of 18 days, while police acted swiftly against those leading the protest. “How can FIRs against protesters be filed almost immediately, but not against those accused in a woman’s death?” was the question repeatedly raised during the agitation.
Ahead of the protest, the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 around the Regional Hospital, restricting the gathering of more than five persons within a 100-metre radius. A duty magistrate was also deployed to maintain law and order, while permission was granted to the victim’s family to hold a peaceful demonstration at Dhalpur Ground.
The case relates to the d*eath of Manju Sharma of Balichowki in Mandi district, who d*ied on June 21 after delivering a baby girl at the Regional Hospital, Kullu. Following allegations of medical negligence, Doctor Anu and two nurses were suspended pending inquiry. However, while disciplinary action has been initiated, no FIR has so far been registered against the medical personnel, a fact that has now become the focal point of the growing public outrage.
