Thirteen people were awarded one-year imprisonment by a Palghar court for attacking a medical officer and ransacking a primary health centre (PHC) here in Maharashtra.

First Class Judicial Magistrate O J Kulkarni pronounced the sentence on Saturday after convicting the accused under relevant sections of the IPC, the Bombay Police Act and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act.

The prosecution told the court that on November 14, 2014, a 70-year-old man was brought to the PHC at Udhawa village after he complained of severe chest pain. The doctor concerned was sent a message about the patient. However, the elderly man died before the doctor could reach the PHC.

The angry relatives and some locals later manhandled the medical officer, Dr Sachin Mane, when he tried to pacify them and also ransacked the PHC, the prosecution said. They also damaged the car of the block development officer who had come there after coming to know about the commotion.

Later, 13 people were arrested and a case was registered against them. Magistrate Kulkrani in his order said the prosecution successfully proved all the charges against the accused. He also imposed a fine of Rs 500 each on the accused.