By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: The situation in Kashmir continues to worsen with each passing day, with three more people killed on Friday, taking the toll to 54. Another 400 were injured, but more worryingly, this time the security forces did not even spare hospitals.
Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, one of the major government hospital of valley which is presently treating thousands of patients injured in last one month became the victim of security forces wrath on Friday. The J&K Police and CRPF troopers fired teargas shells in the hospital to disperse people assembled to offer funeral prayers of Sameer Ahmed of Budgam, who had succumbed to his bullet injuries in the hospital.
The police officials wanted to take custody of the dead body, which was resisted by the attendants.
“Security forces fired many shells and there was total chaos in the hospital premises. Everyone was running inside the hospital. Some of the attendants affected by tear gas were later having problems in breathing,” a doctor from SMHS, who wished to stay anonymous, told TwoCircles.net.
Commenting on the issue, the Doctor Association, Kashmir said, “A strong resentment in this context has been expressed which the association is going to put forward to Director Health Services, Kashmir and Secretary Health & Medical Education Department. We will stress to the authorities that if they want to ensure the smooth functioning of hospitals under these crucial circumstances they have to move way ahead in making our place of postings safe and terror free.”
The doctors body have condemned “barbaric assaults” and spreading a “reign of terror” at SDH Chadoora, SDH Khan Sahib and Trauma Hospital Kangan.
“Hospitals have become battlefield wherein every day we feel we are being attacked, assaulted or humiliated,” DAK said.
“During this uprising, there have been extensive damages to the hospital property, which is shameful. Unruly incidents of teargas shelling at SMHS Hospital have demoralized and frightened the staff there,” the DAK statement added
The J&K High Court Bar Association have also condemned the use of tear gas shells and pepper gas inside Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital
“The shelling which was resorted to for about 15 minutes and some of the shells of which landed inside the hospital and made the patients admitted in the hospital and their attendants to run for safety, which not only worsened their condition, but also made the job of the doctors, who are treating them difficult, is a worst kind of violation of the human rights of the people and should be condemned by one and all,” the Bar association said.
Meanwhile, an ambulance driver was beaten up by policemen in Pulwama district on Friday when he was ferrying a pregnant lady to a Srinagar based hospital. Dozens of ambulances and staff associated with health department have been either manhandled or beaten by security forces or protestors in last one month of the unrest.