Thane doctor assault case: A Dombivli hospital attack involving a corporator raises serious questions about doctor safety, political influence, and healthcare reforms

Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, Maharashtra’s Thane district, is run by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and serves thousands of people every day. However, on the evening of July 6, 2026, the hospital became the scene of a violent attack that left young doctors shaken. The incident has forced some doctors to resign and has raised serious concerns about the safety of healthcare workers in public hospitals.

A Routine Medical Decision Led to Violence

Dr. Srishti Bawiskar and Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe were on duty when they examined a newborn baby. The hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was already full. Following medical protocol, they advised the baby’s family to shift the infant to another hospital where proper critical care was available. They did not refuse treatment. Instead, they made a responsible medical decision based on the hospital’s limited resources.

The family became upset and contacted local Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre. Instead of discussing the issue, the situation quickly turned into a confrontation.

CCTV Captured the Assault

According to CCTV footage that later went viral, Mhatre arrived at the hospital with several supporters. They entered the hospital ward, and within minutes, the situation became violent.

The footage allegedly shows Mhatre slapping and punching Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe. He also allegedly struck him on the head with a register. At the same time, Dr. Srishti Bawiskar was trying to call senior officials, including the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), for help. Someone allegedly hit her hand from behind and snatched her mobile phone. The attackers also abused and assaulted members of the nursing staff and other hospital employees. Dr. Salunkhe suffered visible injuries during the attack.

Hospital staff described the incident as a mob entering the hospital and attacking doctors on duty. Dr. Mahendra Bawiskar, father of Dr. Srishti Bawiskar, said the patient’s family called their “Dada,” after which Mhatre and his supporters entered the hospital, abused the staff, and physically assaulted them.

Doctors Left Traumatised

The attack left both doctors deeply disturbed.

Speaking to NDTV, Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe said he was terrified after the incident. He said he had been receiving threatening phone calls and was still trying to recover from the shock of the attack. While he appreciated the action taken against the accused, he said he needed time to overcome the trauma.

Dr. Srishti Bawiskar’s family also described the emotional impact of the incident. Her mother said doctors regularly work 48-hour shifts to care for patients, but after the assault, her daughter could not sleep and became anxious and frightened about returning to work.

“She is mentally depressed. She is afraid someone may attack her again,” her mother said.

The family demanded strict punishment for those responsible and said no doctor should have to work under constant fear.

Doctors and hospital staff immediately started protesting after the incident. KDMC Medical Health Officer Dr. Deepa Shukla and other officials approached the police. However, the police registered an FIR only after continuous pressure from doctors and medical associations.

Police Action and Institutional Response

After public outrage and pressure from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the police registered an FIR at Vishnunagar Police Station.

The FIR included several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to assault on public servants, causing hurt, criminal intimidation, intentional insult, unlawful assembly, and rioting.

Police arrested three of Mhatre’s associates on Tuesday night. Mhatre surrendered on Wednesday and was also arrested. The investigation is still ongoing.

The Indian Medical Association warned that it could organise shutdowns if doctors continued to face violence. Resident doctors and nurses also announced protests, including wearing black ribbons to demand better protection.

Mhatre’s Defence

Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre expressed regret over what he called a “physical altercation.” However, he denied assaulting Dr. Srishti Bawiskar. He claimed that he only “tapped” her hand because she was talking on the phone and was not listening to him.

He blamed the incident on shortcomings in the hospital system. He said he reached the hospital because the patient’s family could not get help despite making several phone calls. Referring to Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Mhatre said he had been taught never to raise his hand against women. He described Dr. Bawiskar as being like his daughter and claimed that his actions helped save lives.

Political Reactions

The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leadership distanced itself from the incident.

Member of Parliament Dr. Shrikant Shinde, who is also a doctor, strongly condemned the assault. He said the party would take disciplinary action and would not protect anyone found guilty.

MP Naresh Mhaske acknowledged that Mhatre was a senior party leader but said the party would not support such behaviour. He confirmed that the party had issued Mhatre a show-cause notice.

Opposition leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the ruling alliance, alleging that it had tried to shield the accused. Maharashtra Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar also condemned violence against doctors over disagreements.

Bigger Problems Behind the Incident

Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre is an experienced corporator who has won several elections since 2000 and has served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee. His political influence highlights a larger issue about the pressure that elected representatives can sometimes exert on public institutions.

The incident also exposed long-standing problems in civic hospitals, including the shortage of NICU beds and limited medical resources. Frontline healthcare workers often have to make difficult medical decisions because of these shortages, while also facing pressure from influential people.

The attack also resembles earlier incidents involving Sena leaders and raises serious questions about accountability for elected representatives. Doctors already work under stressful conditions in under-resourced hospitals. Incidents like this create fear and discourage medical professionals from continuing to serve in public healthcare.

A Need for Accountability and Reform

The assault on Dr. Srishti Bawiskar and Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe is not an isolated incident. It reflects a growing problem where people in positions of power use their influence against healthcare workers who are simply doing their jobs.

The doctors’ decision to resign and their fear of returning to work should not be seen as weakness. It is a natural response to violence and repeated threats.

If Maharashtra wants its public healthcare system to function effectively, it must provide hospitals with adequate resources, protect doctors and medical staff, and adopt a zero-tolerance policy against political interference and violence.

The authorities must ensure that justice in this case is swift, transparent, and strong enough to prevent similar incidents in the future. Until then, many doctors, including those in Thane, will continue to ask one difficult question: Is serving the public worth risking their own safety?