A health worker from Bisnupaduka Health Post in Dharan was beaten up by a police sub-inspector on Thursday morning.

Chandra Prakash Khanal, a health assistant of the health post, was visiting a patient’s house in Panibari, Dharan, on Thursday morning when he was stopped on the way by Sub-inspector BR Raut.

Khanal claimed that Raut questioned him for being outside during the lockdown and proceeded to beat him for defying the stay-at-home order.

“He hit me even after I showed him my ID card issued by the District Administration Office,” Khanal said.

Following the incident, health workers in Dharan protested outside the city office demanding action against the officer.

In the last few weeks, several meetings have been held in the District Administration Office to facilitate the health and sanitation services during the lockdown.

“What happened today was unfortunate. The police must exercise caution when dealing with situations during this pandemic,”Umesh Raut, chief at the Health Division of Dharan city office, said.   

“The health workers returned to their work on Thursday noon after the District Administration Office and the city mayor assured them that such incidents will not happen again in the future.” 

There are more than 150 health workers including public health officers, auxiliary health workers, health assistants, nurses and women volunteers working in various health institutions in Dharan.