Jaipur, Sep 6 (IANS) A strike by around 1,200 resident doctors in all six government medical colleges and their attached hospitals in Rajasthan has left medical services crippled in the state.

While the outdoor patient departments (OPD) have been adversely affected at all hospitals following the strike that began Saturday, the indoor patients have been left to the mercy of nursing staff.

According to unconfirmed reports, 19 people, including seven infants have died in Jodhpur due to lack of proper medical care at the three government hospitals there since the strike began Saturday.

'We are looking into the issue. We have also heard about these deaths and have to verify facts. If so many have died, then the cause of death has to be ascertained. It is pre-mature for us to comment,' said an official of the medical and health department here Monday on condition of anonymity.

The resident doctors are on strike since Saturday protesting alleged police atrocities at the M.D.M. Medical College in Jodhpur.

'We have called the strike to protest the baton-charge Saturday in which many of our students and doctors were injured,' Dr. K.K. Sahu, president of the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors said, adding that the strike would continue till the police officials are suspended.

Resident doctors say the police resorted to baton-charge following a minor scuffle between some doctors and attendants of a patient.