The fallout from the assault on doctors at a municipal hospital in Maharashtra’s Dombivli has deepened, with another doctor deciding to walk away from her job amid fears for her safety. Dr Srushti Baviskar, who was assaulted by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre inside the hospital premises, has reportedly resigned, a day after her colleague Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe quit and left the city citing threats and fear.
The developments have raised fresh concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals, even as the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has disputed claims that the two doctors have formally resigned.
Woman doctor quits after assault
According to reports, Dr Srushti Baviskar has decided to resign following the violent attack allegedly carried out by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his associates at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli.
Her decision comes barely a day after fellow doctor Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe announced that he had resigned and left the city, saying he no longer felt safe returning to work.
“I have resigned because there is a lot of fear. Goons are watching us, and I have already left the city. They are very dangerous people. The other doctors may continue working there, but I cannot. I will not go back there again,” Salunkhe said.
His statement reflects the atmosphere of fear that has gripped the hospital staff following the assault, with doctors questioning whether they can continue working under such circumstances.
KDMC says no resignation has been submitted
However, KDMC Chief Medical Officer Dr Deepa Shukla has denied that either doctor has officially resigned.
According to her, both Dr Salunkhe and Dr Baviskar were appointed through a third-party recruitment agency and have neither submitted resignation letters to the municipal corporation nor to the parent agency responsible for their appointments.
“They are absent from their duties without notice,” Dr Shukla said, adding that no formal resignation has been received from either doctor.
The differing accounts have created uncertainty over the doctors’ employment status, although both are reportedly no longer attending duty.
How the incident unfolded
The assault took place at the KDMC-run Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli after the relatives of a newborn were advised to shift the infant to another medical facility.
Doctors informed the family that the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) had no vacant beds, making it necessary to refer the baby elsewhere for treatment.
Instead of accepting the medical advice, the patient’s relatives reportedly approached local Shiv Sena corporator, Ramesh Mhatre.
Mhatre then arrived at the hospital along with several associates, following which the situation escalated into violence.
Assault caught on camera
Videos of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, showed the corporator allegedly attacking hospital staff inside the medical facility.
In one of the videos, Mhatre is seen striking a woman doctor, Dr Srushti Baviskar, from behind before turning towards Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe and other hospital employees, assaulting them during the confrontation.
WHEN A RULING PARTY BECOMES DRUNK ON THE INTOXICANT OF POWER AND ENTITLEMENT.
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) July 7, 2026
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) corporator Ramesh Mhatre allegedly assaulted a female doctor, a gynecologist, and multiple nursing staff members at the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC)-run… pic.twitter.com/LeCX0zETle
The visuals triggered widespread outrage among medical professionals and the public, with doctors’ associations condemning the attack and demanding stringent action against those involved.
The incident also reignited concerns about the increasing number of attacks on healthcare workers while they perform their duties.
Arrest followed by hospital admission
Amid mounting public criticism, police arrested Ramesh Mhatre on Wednesday in connection with the assault.
However, the controversy did not end there.
Soon after his arrest, the corporator was admitted to Thane Civil Hospital on health grounds, prompting allegations that he was receiving preferential treatment despite being accused of assaulting government doctors.
The development drew criticism from several quarters, with questions being raised over whether influential political figures receive treatment unavailable to ordinary accused persons.
Safety of doctors under spotlight
The decision of doctors to leave their workplace following the assault has once again highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare workers in India.
Medical professionals have repeatedly demanded stronger legal protection against violence in hospitals, arguing that fear of physical attacks adversely affects patient care and discourages doctors from serving in public health institutions.
The reported departure of Dr Salunkhe and Dr Baviskar has added another dimension to the controversy, suggesting that the consequences of such attacks extend well beyond the immediate victims.
As investigations continue and legal proceedings against the corporator move forward, the incident has once again raised uncomfortable questions about whether doctors can discharge their professional responsibilities without fear of intimidation or violence.
