Goa: Frustrated over non- payment of pending dues amounting to several lakhs of rupees, a doctor hired by the government to provide dialysis services at a district hospital allegedly assaulted the State Health Services Director by using a metal rod.

Goa Health Services Director Dr Sanjeev Dalvi was attacked allegedly by Dr Venkatesh R with a blunt weapon in his official chamber at the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) building at Campal, Panaji police inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar confirmed to PTI.

Dr Venkatesh had been running outsourced kidney dialysis facilities at the Hospicio Hospital and at the government hospital at Canacona.

The incident took place on Thursday. Dr Dalvi was carrying out his routine work in his cabin when Dr Venkatesh barged in, armed with a metal rod. “Dr Dalvi shouted for help. We rushed to him and saw Dr Venkatesh was holding him by his neck. Dr Dalvi was bleeding from his head and his shoulder was also injured,” a witness informed Herald.

“We took the accused and locked him in the gent’s toilet but he broke open the door and jumped from the first floor. He also sustained a fracture,” said the witness.

After the attack, the police took the accused doctor to the police station and later shifted him to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC).

On the other hand, Dr Venkatesh told the Navhind Times that Dr Dalvi assaulted him when he went to ask him about the pending dues running into Rs 70 lakh. “He (Dr Dalvi) said that Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told him not to pay. He is putting blame on Rane,” he claimed.

The accused doctor has been booked under Sections 324 (causing hurt or injuries by dangerous weapons), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servants from discharge of his duty) and 504 (intentional insult with intention to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code.

Befuddled as to how the weapon went unnoticed by the staff, the police is investigating the matter.