Jaitapur protesters’ victim fears for life

Angry mob storms Ratnagiri Civil Hospital, beats up cleaner after authorities deny their demand. Victim, recuperating at KEM, says union is protesting for staff's safety

Jaitapur protesters' victim fears for life

Angry mob storms Ratnagiri Civil Hospital, beats up cleaner after authorities deny their demand. Victim, recuperating at KEM, says union is protesting for staff's safety

Upheaval in Jaitapur over the proposed 9,900-MW nuclear power plant claimed a casualty unrelated to the protests on Wednesday. Even as the victim, a staff at the civil hospital in Ratnagiri, is currently recuperating at the city's KEM Hospital, he fears for his safety. MiD DAY spoke with the incidental target of the anti-nuclear remonstration, Pradeep Mohite (35). A cleaner at the Civil Hospital in Ratnagiri, he escaped death after a mob of over 30 people entered the post-mortem centre on Wednesday, and assaulted him after the hospital's non-compliance with their demand to have a post-mortem videographed.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Civil Hospital in Ratnagiri, after
police opened firing on them Pic/Datta Kumbhar

"On Wednesday, when a man died during the protests at Jaitapur, he was brought to the civil hospital, which is 45 minutes from Jaitapur, for a post mortem," Mohite said. "The mob asked hospital authorities to record the autopsy on a video camera, but the authorities did not entertain their demand. Furious, the mob broke the main door of the post mortem centre and started beating us (the hospital staff). The person working with me escaped somehow but I was trapped by the angry crowd. I received wounds on my leg and got severe internal injuries."

"Our Mazdoor Union carried a morcha to protest for our safety," he added, voicing concerns for the safety of others like him. The unruly horde ransacked the hospital and brutally injured Pardeep. Owing to the severity of his injuries, doctors at the Civil Hospital asked his relatives to shift him to Mumbai's KEM Hospital.

Kin worried
Mohite's family is concerned for his health. His brother, Rajendra, said, "When I came to know of the incident, I called him but he said he was fine. Later at 8 pm, he started complaining that all parts of his body were aching. We took him to the Civil Hospital, and at 2 pm, doctors told us that his internal injuries were severe and that we should to take him to Mumbai's KEM Hospital. So we came here on Thursday, April 21."

Currently, Mohite is recuperating in KEM's ward number seven. The family has asked the Civil Hospital for compensation as Mohite was on its payroll. The authorities have told the family that they would investigate the matter and then take a call. Mohite's sister-in-law, Nandini, said, "He has not eaten anything for four days and we are very concerned about him. The doctors have said that he will be discharged in a few days."