JDU MLA Flouts Rules, Enters Hospital with Gun, Sparking Scrutiny
Video of MLA Narendra Kumar Neeraj aka Gopal Mandal's behavior goes viral on social media, raising concerns about hospital management and law and order in the state
An uproar was caused when a Janata Dal United (JDU) MLA entered a prestigious government hospital in Bhagalpur carrying a handgun and accompanied by armed security.
On Tuesday, the event took place at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH). Hospital management as well as law and order in the state are under scrutiny after a video of MLA Narendra Kumar Neeraj's aka Gopal Mandal's behavior went viral on social media.
The film depicts him moving about the emergency room, CT scan area, and other hospital spaces. The patients, their caregivers, and the medical personnel are all perceived to be inconvenienced by his presence.
According to sources, Mandal, a four-time lawmaker from the Gopalpur constituency, went to the hospital to see his granddaughter after she underwent a CT scan due to an injury. They continued by saying that the hospital's medical personnel and doctors were terrorized by his presence.
When asked why he carried a gun while going with his armed police bodyguards on his side, Mandal replied, "It's just my style. I have the license for the revolver, which was a Webley and Scott.
"I have a weapon in my hand because my life is at danger. What would the authorities do if I were to pass away? The bodyguards of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assassinated her. Phoolan Devi, a member of parliament for Uttar Pradesh, was fatally shot at her front gate. So I always have a gun on me, in my waist, or in my hands," Mandal continued.
The lawmaker denied breaking any laws and claimed that since he declared his intention to run for Lok Sabha in 2024, there have been more threats made against him.
Uday Narayan Singh, superintendent of JLNMCH, did not return calls or texts.
Anand Kumar, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) in charge of Bhagalpur, stated that the police had not received any complaints on the incident from the hospital's administration.
"However, we have a video of the aforementioned incident. The city subdivisional police officer has been tasked with looking into the situation, the SSP stated.
