A group of four people attacked health workers at a Covid-19-dedicated hospital in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality, Dolakha on Saturday night.

The hospital administration said medical officer Dr Robis Karki and office assistant Top Bahadur Mijar were attacked by the group.

“The group had come to the hospital seeking treatment for one of them with an injured leg,” said Karki. “I told them I will step outside and have a look since there are coronavirus patients receiving treatment inside the hospital building. They got angry for not being allowed to enter the hospital.”

Karki said the group manhandled the health workers, saying they can’t be stopped from entering the hospital that they built.

Karki and Mijar escaped the assailants.

“All of us closed the main door and went to the roof of the building as they threatened to set the hospital on fire and kill us. We immediately informed the police and the rural municipal office about the incident,” said Karki.

Karki lodged a complaint at the District Police Office against the four assailants from Malu in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality-4 on Sunday. He has demanded legal action against the accused in accordance with a recently issued ordinance related to the security of health workers and institutions.

Tamokoshi Rural Municipality has also demanded legal action against the group who attacked the health workers.

According to Mijar, the accused barged into the hospital compound at night by climbing over the fence.

Seven health workers, including a doctor, work at the five-bed hospital.

Meanwhile, security personnel detained three of the four accused involved in the attack on Sunday.

“We have taken three suspects in custody. Search is underway for the fourth suspect,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bheshraj Rijal.

Earlier in May, family members of a 53-year-old man from Dang had barged into the ward of Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital, vandalised the intensive care unit and assaulted a team of doctors and nurses on duty. The assailants claimed that the 53-year-old patient of Covid-19 died due to the negligence of the medical team at the ward.

On June 6, an ordinance was issued by amending the existing security of health workers and health organisations act with the provision of strong legal action against attacks on health workers or health institutions. As per the ordinance, an assailant involved in vandalising the health sector or hurting health workers and staffers of the health sector can be jailed up to three years or be fined upto Rs 300,000 or both.