An unattended patient at PMCH on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

The strike called by 650 junior doctors of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) continued for the second day on Friday while hospital superintendent Dr O.P. Chaudhary sent a written complaint against the medics to the health department.

The letter stated that Chau-dhary and some other doctors were assaulted by the medics on Wednesday night. The government is now contemplating setting up an inquiry committee to probe the matter.

Health department principal secretary Vyasji said: “We have got the letter (of Dr Chaudhary) and are planning to constitute a committee. If the junior doctors are found guilty of assaulting the authorities, action will be taken against them.”

Postgraduate doctors went on the strike following a brawl with attendants of an acute encephalitis syndrome patient who died at the hospital on Wednesday night.

Dr Ramanuj, a junior doctor, attached with paediatric ward of the hospital, was allegedly beaten up by some attendants on Wednesday night following which a group of medicos roughed up the assaulters. They also manhandled hospital authorities who tried to mediate in the matter.

The medics are demanding adequate security, arrest of those who attacked Ramanuj and resignation of Chaudhary.

“Nobody seems serious to ensure our safety and security. The security guards deployed in the hospital are totally useless and are the first ones to fl-ee in cases of crises,” said Ra-kesh Kumar, president, PMCH junior doctors’ association.

He added that dozens of assaults on junior medicos have been reported under Chaudhary’s tenure. “The situation will not change till Chaudhary is here, as he has no will to work,” Dr Rakesh said.

The junior doctors’ strike has added to the inconvenience of patients and their relatives at the hospital. Many attendants were seen rushing their patients to nearby private hospitals. In paediatric emergency unit, where over 40 kids suffering from encephalitis were admitted two days ago, a large number of empty beds were seen suggesting that most of the children had been moved out owing to the strike.