Monitoring Desk: Doctors in Srinagar continue to protest on Thursday against the thrashing of Dr. Syed Maqbool and Dr. Tajamul Hussain by police.
Just three days after detaining and beating senior cardiologist Dr Syed Maqbool in Srinagar, Police had harassed and misbehaved with Chief Medical Officer in Bandipora Dr Tajamul Hussain.
This new incident has ignited the situation in Srinagar and doctors have protested against the thrashing of Dr. Syed Maqbool by police on May 23. No arrest has been reported so far in both cases.
It may be mentioned that a senior cardiologist Dr. Syed Maqbool was detained and beaten up by the police in Srinagar when he was on his way to the hospital.
The incident was widely condemned over social media with the Jammu and Kashmir (read as Indian Occupied Kashmir) Police facing criticism.
Yet, three days later on the 26th of May, a similar incident took place, when the Chief Medical Officer in Bandipora was not allowed to cross a checkpoint while on his way to inspect a quarantine and sample collection centre in north Kashmir. He was travelling in his official vehicle with an emergency light installed on top.
“I was on way to Chitarnar area sampling site and on official duty. When we reached, near Nasoo, there was a checkpoint, they were not allowing vehicles. My driver approached them and said it is the CMO’s vehicle and he begged before them to please let us go. When they didn’t listen, then only I came down and shouted and screamed,” said Dr Tajamul Hussain, the Chief Medical Officer in Bandipora. Dr. Hussain was allowed to proceed only after the intervention of senior officers. In more such instances, doctors, as well as the staff of government-run Power Development Department (PDD) had reported the police prevented them from attending to their duties.
Thoughtless and arrogant police culture is without remorse for obstructing the work of medical professionals, especially during this COVID-19 time. This is evident in SSP, Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal saying a complaint has been registered against Dr. Maqbool for allegedly preventing a policeman from doing his duty. In response to ongoing harassment of health workers, senior doctors protested outside a hospital in Srinagar.
Dismay and incredulity continue unabated as Kashmir remains without 4G internet for the 298th day.
Doctors have strongly expressed the need for speedy internet to effectively battle the Covid pandemic but to no avail. To make matters worse, the police establishment has taken to harassing these frontline workers who just want to do their work without disruption. The incompetence and misplaced priorities of the J&K police is on display for all to witness.
