Man dies by suicide, family reaches Collectorate with ashes:Says nurse assaulted him 6 months ago, demands ignored; protest continues since afternoon

After Mahendra Lodhi, a resident of Raneh in Damoh district, died by suicide, his wife sat on a protest at the Collectorate premises on Wednesday with their small child. Family members, along with hundreds of villagers, walked to the Collectorate carrying his ashes and surrounded the premises demanding justice. The protest has been continuing since 1 pm. Considering the situation, the administration has deployed heavy police force. The deceased’s cousin Rajesh said they will not leave until they get justice. He alleged that the administration is not ready to accept even a single one of their demands. What is the entire dispute? The matter dates back to June last year. Mahendra Lodhi had alleged that nurse Neelam Yadav at Raneh Health Centre refused to treat his pregnant wife and that he was assaulted when he protested. A video of the incident had also surfaced. After this, cases were registered against both sides. Following the incident, the health department conducted an inquiry, transferred nurse Neelam Yadav and stopped her annual increment for one year. The matter is currently under consideration in court. Family says three demands were not met Cousin Rajesh said the administration has not agreed to any of their demands, so they will continue to sit there. They demanded a government job in an anganwadi for the widow, but were told a private job could be arranged. They said a widow cannot manage a private job. Their second demand was removal of the local station in-charge and registration of a case against him, which officials refused. The third demand was dismissal of the nurse accused of assault, which was also not accepted. The Collector asked them to send people home and said he would speak to the family, but they insisted they would not leave without justice. Protester hits journalist, police disperse crowd
Around 6 pm, a clash broke out between protesters and journalists. One protester allegedly assaulted a media person. Police drove protesters out of the Collectorate premises. Journalists then sat on a protest inside the premises demanding a case be registered. It is said a young man had repeatedly tried to push media persons away, which led to the dispute. Death occurred on 5 February Mahendra Singh Lodhi died by suicide on 5 February in Simaria of Panna district. Family members and claims on social media say he was distressed over the case registered against him and the alleged incomplete action by the administration. After the last rites, relatives reached Damoh with his ashes to stage the protest.