Man pelts stones at COVID hospital, held

Noise of oxygen cylinders being unloaded allegedly bothered accused, who also roughed up facility staff and driver; Chandan Nagar police are probing the case

Inrelation to a shocking incident that took place at Raising Medicare Hospital, Kharadi, on August 17, a man has been arrested for allegedly hurling stones at the medical facility, which has been recognised as a COVID-19 centre since June by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Chandan Nagar police have registered a case against the accused in the matter.

Identified as Ganesh Gade, the accused committed the act as he was disturbed by the noise being caused due to moving of oxygen cylinders at the hospital located close to his house, said police officials.

Things turned ugly when the hospital security guard and vehicle driver were unloading oxygen cylinders and carrying them inside the premises. The noise allegedly bothered Gade, who got into a quarrel with the driver of the vehicle and the hospital staff. Instead of stopping at verbal spat, he went on to vandalise the hospital property, pelting stones at the building, damaging a portion of its glass façade, added the cops.

The showdown happened around 3.30 pm on Monday. Dr Vinod Bharti, representing the hospital, has filed a complaint with Chandan Nagar police in connection with the case. Gade will be produced in court on Wednesday.

According to the first information report (FIR) filed, the hospital has 79 beds reserved for COVID-19 patients. Of the 40 patients admitted, 20 are on oxygen support and three are on ventilator support at present. This makes it mandatory for the facility to arrange for oxygen cylinders, states the complaint, adding that every day a vehicle brings oxygen cylinder as per need.

The FIR further mentions that apart from getting into a fight with the hospital staff, Gade also threw a flower pot from his second-floor apartment aiming the vehicle. The shattered windowpanes, dented by the stones pelted, have sent the hospital staff in a state of shock, the FIR additionally reads.

Commenting on the case, Shankar Khatke, senior police inspector attached to Chandan Nagar police station, said, “Since Raising Medicare Hospital has been designated as a COVID-19 centre, it is in constant need of oxygen. Gade roughed up driver Ashok Khedekar and security guard Swapnil Sharma and broke the windowpanes of the medical facility by hurling stones. We have arrested Gade. A case has been registered against him under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), 341(wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50), 504 (intention insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.”