By: Suhas BirhadePALGHAR: Deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has taken serious cognisance of the alleged assault on a hospital employee by Shiv Sena workers at a private hospital in Palghar.Palghar city chief Rahul Gharat, who was allegedly involved in the incident, has been suspended from the party.Shinde said such incidents would not be tolerated and warned that action would be taken against anyone found responsible.The incident occurred at Relief Hospital in Palghar on Saturday night over the treatment of an injured Govinda.Shiv Sena workers allegedly created a ruckus at the hospital and assaulted an employee, Vivek Zinga.The Shiv Sena office-bearers allegedly abused and threatened the hospital staff before taking away an injured Govinda while his treatment was underway.The incident has triggered widespread criticism across the state.Palghar police registered a case against 17 people, including the Shiv Sena district chief and city chief. Gharat was arrested on Monday and remanded in police custody for a day.Reacting to the incident, Shinde said Gharat had been suspended from the party.“The incident is extremely unfortunate. Assaulting doctors or other healthcare workers is not justified. Shiv Sena will not support or protect such acts,” he said.“If there was any wrongdoing in the treatment of the patient, a complaint should have been lodged through legal channels. Taking the law into one’s own hands is not acceptable and Shiv Sena will not support it,” Shinde said.He also warned party workers that violence against doctors would not be tolerated under any circumstances and that those responsible would face action.
