Ex-serviceman dies due to 'medical negligence', locals protest

An ex-serviceman died allegedly due to medical negligence, triggering protests by locals who blocked the busy Jammu-Pathankot National Highway demanding arrest of the doctor concerned and registration of a murder case against him, police said here today.
50-year-old Punjab Singh was admitted to Kathua district hospital for a minor leg operation. His condition deteriorated, following which he was referred to a private nursing home in Punjab's Pathankot town.
The family members yesterday rushed him to the nursing home, where he was declared brought dead, police said.
Subsequently, the family took the dead body to Kathua district hospital and staged a protest before Superintendent J P Singh's office.

Protesting the incident, locals blocked the busy Jammu- Pathankot highway, disrupting traffic for couple of hours.
The mob also burnt tyres in the middle of the road and sat on dharna at Lachhipur More village late last night.

They agitators demanded immediate arrest of the doctor concerned and registration of a murder case against him.
Kathua DSP Daljit Singh rushed to the spot and assured the protesters that a case will be registered against the negligent doctor and his team.
Meanwhile, the hospital administration said it will constitute a board of doctors to get the autopsy done to ascertain the real cause of Singh's death.