NAGPUR: Dr Pawankumar Uikey, arrested with Maoist banners in his possession, was a 2006 pass out from the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur.
Gadchiroli police are investigating how Uikey, the medical officer and in-charge of Kamalapur primary health centre in Gadchiroli, was indoctrinated by Maoists.
The PHC's ambulance driver Praful Bhatt and his cousin Anil too were arrested while they were erecting a Maoist banner for the ongoing 'Naxal saptah' or Martyrs’ week observed by the rebels every year between July 28 and August 3. The three were sent to police custody remand till August 8.
One Pawan Kumar Tatikondawal too was found at the spot but not arrested. Senior cops claim he was just a passer-by.
Sources said more people from the health department may be quizzed in the coming days. They said Uikey had met some senior Maoist cadres at Beenagunda near Laheri in the past.
The doctor’s arrest has caused a flutter in the health department. “Uikey was a reserved person and had very few friends. He never showed any aggressiveness even when someone would pull him up,” said a senior official.
“Uikey was posted for the last four years at Kamalapur and is likely to have come in contact with the Maoists during this time,” said the official adding Uikey used to go around on a bike to reach his patients.
SP Ankit Goyal said the doctor had some 'deep' connections with the Maoists but refrained from divulging more details. “The interrogations have just started and the details would roll out soon,” he said.
The zilla parishad administration is now likely to suspend Dr Uikey and initiate a departmental inquiry against him on Monday.
