NEW DELHI: The Himachal Medical Officers’ Association has announced a mass leave on December 26, demanding the revocation of the suspension of a resident doctor in connection with an alleged assault on a patient at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC). The association has also called for legal action against those responsible in the incident and sought strengthened security measures at hospitals. It warned that doctors may resort to a collective leave or strike if their demands are not addressed. The controversy at Shimla’s IGMC stems from an incident earlier this week in which a resident doctor was accused of physically assaulting a patient inside the hospital ward. The episode surfaced after a video circulated online showing a masked doctor repeatedly striking a patient lying on a bed, while another doctor appeared to restrain the patient’s legs. The patient, identified as 36-year-old Arjun Panwar, was reportedly attacked after objecting to the manner in which he was addressed and asking the doctor to speak respectfully. Following the incident, police registered an FIR against Dr Raghav Narula (31), a senior resident in the pulmonary medicine department. The IGMC administration placed the doctor under suspension and, on the directions of chief minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, constituted a three-member committee to conduct an internal inquiry. IGMC medical superintendent Dr Rahul Rao said disciplinary action would be decided based on the panel’s findings, while a separate police investigation into the case is underway.