A mob, numbering around 3,000, including women, laid siege to NH-80 near Chapanala bridge from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday in protest of delay in arresting Dr Mrityunjay Kumar, accused of molesting a patient.

The worst sufferers, part from regular commuters, were emergency patients. The mob hailing from seven panchayats under the banner of Goshaidaspur Mahapanchayat had put up the blockade.

On October 31, the 22-year-old woman from Goshaidaspur had levelled allegations on the doctor for attempting to outrage her modesty inside the nursing home.

Since then, the town has witnessed several protests, demonstrations and bandhs causing immense trouble for the common man. Tuesday’s eight-hour road blockade had held up traffic from Bhagalpur towards the west.

“The agitators did not allow us to cross the bridge to reach Bhagalpur. I was headed for Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital for the treatment of my daughter. Now, we have to make an additional 100km journey to reach Bhagalpur via Akbarnagar-Shakund road. My daughter is in an advanced stage of labour and I don’t know whether she will be alive or not by the time we reach the hospital,” said Anandi Yadav, a resident of Sultanganj.

The protesters did not allow the ambulance carrying Yadav’s daughter to pass the road.

The husband and family members of the woman patient, present at the site of blockade, blamed the police for the delay in the arrest of the doctor. “We would continue our agitation and until the doctor is arrested,” said the husband of the victim.

Several social organisations, along with large number of people from adjoining villages, were present.

The blockade was cleared around 4pm but by then it had caused a lot of hardship for passengers, as the approach road to Vikramshila bridge is one of an important road towards Bhagalpur.

Many intellectuals have expressed concern over the episode saying it has caused problems for commuters in addition to disturbing the tranquillity of the town. “The agitators should restrain themselves and allow the natural course of law to deal with it. Some people having vested interests are trying to divert the issue,” said a resident.

Senior superintendent of police Vivek Kumar said police have been acting without any bias and would do continue to do so according to the provisions of law.