Several nursing homes and small hospitals in the city shut down their Out-Patient Departments and observed bandh for a half a day. The doctors were led by senior IMA functionaries including secretary Dr Rajeev Gupta and vice-president Dr Narotam Dewan.

On Sunday, one Kirpal Singh had died at Shri Krishna Charitable Hospital. Kirpal was the brother of Rashpal Singh, who is the personal assistant of MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. Angry relatives of the patient blamed the hospital staff for administering the wrong medicine and creating a ruckus in the hospital by damaging property. The doctors also claimed that the mob had vandalised the hospital in the presence of police officers. They said the MP backed the mob.

Speaking to Newsline from Delhi, MP Dhillon denied these allegations and said that all he had done was to help the two parties reach a compromise.

“I also tried to pacify the family who said they were informed of the death almost three hours later. The pencillin injection was administered to the patient who had suffered a cardiac arrest, without any tests. The patient died immediately. I am the people’s representative and if a poor and bereaved family approaches me, I will offer help,” said Dhillon.

Meanwhile, over 150 members of the Ludhiana chapter of the Indian Medical Association held a meeting at the IMA House at BRS Nagar. They have proposed to start a legal cell to deal with such cases.

The doctors later staged a silent protest outside the MP’s house.