Bandh in Nirmal over assault on paediatrician observed peacefully

A bandh called by Nirmal MLA Aleti Maheshwar Reddy against the assault on a senior paediatrician was observed peacefully on Saturday. Shops and educational institutions remained closed, while police were deployed across the district to prevent untoward incidents.

Nirmal: A day-long bandh or closure of commercial establishments called by local MLA Aleti Maheshwar Reddy against assault on a pediatrician is going on peacefully here on Saturday.

Commercial establishments and educational institutions, including private schools and colleges, remained closed across the district following the bandh call. BJP cadres were seen moving on the roads to ensure the establishments shut their businesses as part of the protest. Police personnel were deployed at key junctions in the district centre to avoid untoward incidents in the wake of the bandh call.

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Maheshwar Reddy, who called on the pediatrician, condemned the incident on Friday. He demanded that the police arrest the assailants within 24 hours. He criticised the police for their negligence in the probe.

On March 26 evening, Santosh Raj, a senior pediatrician working in a private hospital was assaulted by patient’s relatives over the treatment cost, prompting doctors fraternity to launch a protest against the incident. The doctors withdrew the protest when the Collector Abhilasha Abhinav assured justice. IMA Telangana condemned the assault and sought immediate arrest of the culprits.