Tension in Bengal's steel city after death of a patient

Durgapur, Mar 25 (UNI) Tension ran high in this steel city of West Bengal after an irate mob ransacked a private nursing home to vent anger following the death of a patient during operation, police said today.

The trouble started after Satyabrata Deb (45), who was administered anaesthesia before a surgery on his finger, died on the table at midnight last night at the city centre here.

Relatives of the victim alleged negligence on the part of the surgeons which led to untimely death of the patient.

Police had detained Dr Partha Chandra, Dr Jiban Chatterjee and Dr Hiramuni Singh, who were later released following pressure from the members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), local unit, who had gheraoed the local police station.

IMA members demanded arrest of those responsible for ransacking the nursing home in which Dr Singh, medical Superintendent of BPL hospital, received minor injuries. They said the medicos would go on an indefinite strike if the vendals were not arrested by next 48 hours.

Additional police force was deployed in the area to instill confidence among the medicos.

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