Dombivli Doctor Assault: IMA Announces Statewide Strike, Gives 72-Hour Arrest Deadline

Published 8 July 2026 · health

Dombivli Doctor Assault: IMA Announces Statewide Strike, Gives 72-Hour Arrest Deadline Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 14:12 IST Dombivli Doctor Assault: Sanjay Raut

Dombivli Doctor Assault: IMA Announces Statewide Strike, Gives 72-Hour Arrest Deadline Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 14:12 IST Dombivli Doctor Assault: Sanjay Raut accused CM Fadnavis of inaction, and called for bulldozer action against corporator, alleging the Shinde-led Sena functions "like underworld." Failure to act within the deadline, IMA warned, will trigger a statewide agitation with OPD and IPD services shut across Maharashtra. The Indian Medical Association’s Maharashtra chapter has called a 24-hour medical services strike from July 9 (6 AM) to July 10 (6 AM), condemning the assault on a female doctor and nursing staff at Dombivli’s Shastrinagar Hospital. IMA has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to authorities, demanding the arrest of accused Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his associates. Failure to act within the deadline, IMA warned, will trigger a statewide agitation with OPD and IPD services shut across Maharashtra.

The strike call follows Tuesday’s suspension of routine services at Kalyan-Dombivli’s civic hospitals, after doctors, nurses and paramedical staff protested the attack by Mhatre, his supporters and a patient’s relatives. What Exactly Happened At Shastrinagar Hospital? A 33-year-old patient, Priyanka Ugmale, was admitted in an advanced stage of pregnancy late Monday. Doctors discovered the umbilical cord had looped twice around the foetus and decided on an emergency C-section — but with the hospital’s NICU already full, the medical team began contacting other facilities to secure a neonatal bed before proceeding. The patient’s relatives allegedly reached out to corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who arrived at the hospital and confronted doctors over the perceived delay. The argument escalated; CCTV footage purportedly shows Mhatre assaulting a gynaecologist, after which his supporters allegedly attacked other doctors and staff.

The patient was eventually shifted to another civic hospital, where the C-section was performed and the newborn admitted to NICU. What Legal Action Has Been Taken So Far? Based on a doctor’s complaint, Vishnu Nagar police filed an FIR against four men, including Mhatre, and one woman, invoking relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010. Protesters alleged the FIR only followed after attempts were made to book solely the patient’s relatives — despite CCTV clearly showing the corporator attacking staff. IMA’s Kalyan and Dombivli units have warned that if arrests aren’t made by Wednesday, all affiliated private doctors will suspend services in solidarity, expanding the protest beyond civic hospitals. (details to follow) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Sumedha Kirti Sumedha Kirti is a Chief Sub Editor with over eight years of experience — both at the desk and reporting.