Maharashtra resident doctors call off stir

Mumbai: Around 4,000 resident doctors across Maharashtra, who were on an indefinite strike after an assault on their colleague allegedly by three policemen, have called off their stir.

The development follows orders from the Bombay High Court, which asked the government to invoke a special law that seeks to protect doctors and medicare personnel/institutions, against the policemen. The stringent law was enacted in Maharashtra in 2010 following incidents of attacks on doctors/medical staff and hospitals by relatives/friends of patients. The doctors, who were on strike since Thursday demanding action against the policemen, resumed duty last night, sources said. The policemen - an Inspector and two Constables - allegedly involved in the attack on a doctor, Prashant Patil, in Solapur following an altercation on December 31, surrendered before a court yesterday. They were granted bail by Solapur Judicial Magistrate First Class. A CID probe has been ordered into the assault case.