Doctor arrested for ‘questioning’ lack of Covid-19 beds in Andhra Pradesh

In a Covid-19 review meeting at narsaraopet of Andhra Pradesh, a doctor was dragged from the meeting after the collector ordered the police to arrest him. The doctor Somla naik had raised questions about the lack of Covid-19 beds due to which patients are coming back to the health centres even after the reference. Guntur Collector Samuel Anand Kumar lost his temper at the doctor and ordered for his suspension and arrest.

Dr. Somla Naik is a medical officer working at Nadendla’s primary health care centre. He was later taken away from the meet and put inside the police station. The entire incident was caught on camera. in the video that surfaced, the collector can be heard angrily saying, “What nonsense. Where is this doctor from? Take him away and arrest him. arrest him under disaster management sections. Take him away. Who is the Sub inspector of police here?

The Collector directed the DMHO Dr. J Yasmin to suspend Dr. Somla Naik who raised the problem and directed Nasaraopet DSP Veera Reddy to arrest him. However, police released him later without any case.

TDP leader and son of Chandrababu Naidu Nara Lokesh tweeted, “This is Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s atrocity on a tribal officer. During a review meeting on coronavirus in Narasaraopet in Guntur district, Nadendla medical officer Somlu Nayak, who questioned why officers like him were being blamed for the increase in cases without minimum facilities being provided, was arrested.
“I condemn his brutal arrest. Somlu nayak should be released immediately!”.

The Andhra Pradesh govt doctors’ association has condemned the incident. The collector of Guntur said that there is no problem with the beds and asked the doctor why he raised it. The doctor adamantly said it is the fact that there are no beds.

One doctor who participated in the meeting said if the problem is brought to notice, it would be solved but this is the result. Dr. Somla Naik has been working very hard after the outbreak of Covid-19. He collected 1,600 samples in the Nadendla area. When he refers the Covid-19 patients to higher government hospitals, they are sent back due to a lack of beds.