The Delhi Police arrested a 42-year-old man late on Wednesday evening for allegedly assaulting, molesting and threatening two women resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital following an alteration over maintaining social distance at a fruit shop in south Delhi’s Gautam Nagar area.

According to police, a complaint was received by 29-year-old resident doctor, a Gautam Nagar area resident, who had stepped out with her sister to buy fruits and vegetables in her neighbourhood market on Wednesday.

“A case under section 341, 323, 354, 506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the Hauz Khas police station and the accused has been arrested,” said Atul Kumar Thakur, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South district.

According to Dr Manish, President, Safdarjung Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) the incident happened around 9.30 pm on Wednesday when the two had stepped out of their house to buy fruits in the area.

“The two doctors of the central government hospital are not on Covid-19 duty. A local resident, who was in the vicinity, asked them to stay away from the fruit stall, saying you doctors bring infection from the hospital and spread it here,” said Dr Manish.

“When the doctors sought to reason with him, the man allegedly twisted their hands and pushed them back and fled,” said Dr Manish.

“When the two women were about to leave following the spat, the man assaulted them and even touched the 29-year-old woman her inappropriately,” said another resident doctor