On Saturday, Visakhapatnam police thrashed a doctor tying his hands and dragging him on the road for allegedly creating nuisance publicly.

Dr. Sudhakar, who was an anesthesiologist at Narsipatnam public-run hospital was suspended last month on disciplinary grounds for alleging the govt that it had been not providing an adequate number of N-95 masks and  PPE kits to the doctors.

Dr. Sudhakar’s hands were tied behind his back by a constable was beaten before bundling him into an auto-rickshaw to take him to the police station, in the presence of surprised onlookers.

R K Meena, the Visakhapatnam police commissioner, later announced that the constable who behaved rudely with the doctor was suspended and inquiry is pending on him.

The opposition Telugu Desam Party, CPI, and other parties condemned the incident, questing the law and order condition in the State.

The police commissioner reportedly said that the police control room acted against a complaint saying a person was creating road-block on the highway at Akkayyapalem area. According to the commissioner, the fourth town police rushing to spot ascertained that the person was Dr. Sudhakar of Narsipatnam government hospital, who is presently under suspension.

“Sudhakar was during a drunken state and he behaved rudely with the police. He snatched the mobile from a constable and threw it away,” the commissioner said. “The doctor is seemingly affected by some psychological problems,” the commissioner was quoted while saying to the reporters.

According to Meena police took Dr. Sudhakar was taken into custody and later to the police station to avoid inconvenience to the traffic on the national highway.

“We have sent him to King George Hospital for a checkup. After receiving the report, we shall book a case against Sudhakar under appropriate sections of Indian legal code,” the commissioner was quoted saying.

Dr. Sudhakar, in the first week of March, protested before the media stating that the government was not providing them sufficient N-95 masks and the PPEs meant for doctors and that essential equipment were being given to politicians and the police.

“We are asked to use an equivalent mask for 15 days before posing for a fresh mask. How can we treat patients risking our lives?” he asked. As the video of his comments went viral within the media, the government ordered a search into his allegations and suspended Sudhakar on disciplinary grounds.