Srinagar, June 3: Doctors at SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura Thursday temporarily boycotted work after one of their colleagues was allegedly manhandled by a driver of the institute. The doctors resumed duties after assurances from the administration that the matter would be investigated.
 Trouble erupted when a SKIMS vehicle hit the private car of a junior doctor (name withheld) of the department of Cardiology on Alijan Road near Eidgah. “The doctors and the driver had a heated argument there. But when the doctor reached hospital and was parking his vehicle, a group of drivers brought him down from his car and assaulted him,” witnesses said.
 The doctor and a driver were injured in the scuffle.
 As the word about the doctor’s beating spread in the institute, all the doctors went on a spontaneous strike and boycotted work. The doctors demanded action against the drivers.
 “This is nothing but sheer hooliganism. We cannot work in such situations where doctors are assaulted for a petty like this,” the doctors said.
 However, they resumed their duties after the SKIMS administration intervened and assured them that the matter would be investigated.
 Medical Superintendent, SKIMS, Dr. Syed Amin Tabish, told Greater Kashmir that it was a case of “road rage.”
 “SKIMS has nothing to do with the issue. It is a coincidence that they both work here,” he said.
 Dr Tabish said the doctors agitated against the assault on their colleague. “But now they are back on work,” he said.
 “A 5-member committee—comprising two senior doctors and three other employees of the institute—has been constituted by the hospital administration. It will look into the matter.”
 He said a doctor and a driver received injuries during the incident.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST