Nagpur: A shocking display of lawlessness inside the premises of Mayo Hospital has exposed the ugly underbelly of the private ambulance business, with rival groups of ambulance operators allegedly turning the hospital campus into a battleground over control of operations and money. Armed with baseball bats, hockey sticks and iron rods, attackers went on a rampage late at night, smashing the windows of nearly 10 ambulances and spreading panic across the hospital premises.
The violence reportedly erupted following a dispute over an alleged demand for Rs 3,000 from an ambulance driver for being allowed to operate his vehicle within the hospital premises. What began as a dispute over money soon escalated into a confrontation between two groups of ambulance operators, culminating in a late-night attack apparently intended as retaliation for an earlier assault.
Tehsil police have registered a case against three accused in connection with the incident. Police have detained Soheb Firoz Khan, while Parvez Firoz Khan and Sonu alias Baba are absconding.
According to the complaint, the complainant, Sheikh Rehan Sheikh Noor (20), a resident of the Noori Masjid area in Yashodhara Nagar, works as an ambulance driver. He alleged that he had a dispute with Parvez Firoz Khan, Sonu alias Baba and Soheb Firoz Khan over operating an ambulance at Mayo Hospital.
The accused allegedly demanded Rs 3,000 from him for allowing him to run his ambulance within the hospital premises. The demand was opposed by other ambulance drivers present there, triggering an argument and escalating tensions between the rival groups.
Revenge attack turns hospital campus into a battleground
The confrontation reportedly took a violent turn later that night. Allegedly seeking revenge for an earlier physical altercation during the day, the accused returned armed with baseball bats, hockey sticks and iron rods.
They allegedly targeted approximately 10 ambulances parked inside the hospital premises, smashing their windows and causing extensive damage. The attackers fled after carrying out the vandalism, leaving behind damaged vehicles and an atmosphere of fear and tension.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of patients, attendants and hospital employees, particularly when violence involving private operators erupts within a major government healthcare institution.
Police have reportedly found that all three accused have previous criminal records. While Soheb has been detained, efforts are underway to trace Parvez and Sonu, who fled after the incident.
Investigators are examining the sequence of events, the alleged extortion demand and the circumstances surrounding the rivalry between the ambulance operators. The role of other persons, if any, is also being examined.
Ambulance business or an organised patient-catching racket?
The incident has once again brought the alleged nexus between private ambulance operators and intermediaries operating around Mayo Hospital under scrutiny.
Mayo attracts a large number of patients not only from Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha but also from neighbouring States. Many arrive in vulnerable circumstances, depending on hospital staff and available transport facilities for guidance.
However, allegations have repeatedly surfaced about certain private ambulance operators and middlemen allegedly approaching patients and their relatives, persuading them to shift to private hospitals. Competition to secure patients and control ambulance operations is also suspected to have fuelled rivalry among different groups.
If these allegations are established, the issue goes far beyond a personal dispute between ambulance drivers. It points towards the possible exploitation of distressed patients and their families at a government hospital where medical emergencies should take precedence over commercial interests.
Who controls ambulance operations inside a government hospital?
The smashing of nearly 10 ambulances has exposed serious questions about security and monitoring within the Mayo campus. How could armed individuals allegedly enter the premises and carry out such widespread vandalism? Is there an effective mechanism to regulate private ambulance operators? Are unauthorised intermediaries operating freely around the hospital, and who is monitoring their activities?
The hospital administration and law enforcement agencies now face the challenge of addressing not merely the immediate criminal incident but also the larger allegations surrounding the private ambulance trade.
A hospital is meant to be a sanctuary for patients, not a battleground for rival commercial interests. The latest rampage at Mayo demands a thorough investigation into the alleged extortion racket, ambulance operators’ activities and the security lapses that allowed the violence to unfold inside a government hospital.
