In the wake of attacks on ambulances, police on Friday said free movement of ambulances would be facilitated to help hassle-free transportation of injured, sick and hospital staff during curfew and curbs on public movement.
SSP Srinagar, Amit Kumar on Friday said that incidences of disruption of ambulance movements will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against anybody involved in such activities.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Kumar said “Free movement of ambulances would be taken up seriously. It is very important issue.”
In the past three weeks, reports of attacks on ambulances at various places by forces as well as protestors have been pouring in regularly. As per reports, over 100 such attacks have taken place wherein ambulance drivers, as well as people travelling in ambulances were beaten up.
One such incident was reported on Wednesday by GMC Srinagar staff. As per a joint representation, the employees of GMC Srinagar have alleged that CRPF personnel deputed at Nawab Bazar Chowk had beaten up an employee of the Associated Hospitals.
Consequently, GMC has written to District Development Commissioner to inquire the matter and order appropriate action so that ‘hospital staff is not harassed while performing their professional duties’.
As per sources, DDC office has sent a communication to SSP office and asked for a report on the incident.
A senior hospital administrator said that harassment of hospital staff by forces personnel was ‘discouraging’ the employees from venturing out of homes to discharge their professional duties.
Officials said that patient care in hospitals which were witnessing a huge rush of injured in the current tense situation in Valley was bound to suffer as free and safe movement of hospital staff was not facilitated.
“How much risk can you expect the staff to take to reach hospitals? Government, security agencies and people have to ensure their free movement,” a senior doctor at GMC said.
In the past, GMC as well as SKIMS has been issuing appeals to people and authorities to ensure safety of hospital staff and vehicles.
An employee of SKIMS Soura here was allegedly beaten by CRPF personnel in Soura while he was on way to hospital to attend to his duties.
As per reports, Abdul Aziz Shah, a male nurse discharging his duties at Kashmir’s tertiary care hospital- SKIMS- was beaten to pulp by some CRPF personnel near 90 Feet Soura.
According to Shah, CRPF men thrashed him when he was on his way to SKIMS to attend his duty. “I had the afternoon shift on Friday. As I reached near 90 Feet road, CRPF personnel stopped me. I told them that I work in hospital and also displayed my identity card before them but they started abusing me and later thrashed me,” Shah said, adding that he somehow managed to escape from the spot.
Non- Gazetted Employees Union of SKIMS, while condemning the incident, appealed the state authorities to avoid such incidents in future.
Association’s president, G M Pandith, has appealed both government forces and people not to stop the hospital staff from attending the duties.
PRO Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF), Rajesh Yadav said that they have not received any such complaint from anyone. “If the staffer can identify the person he should come to the officials so that we will take action against the involved personnel,” Yadav said. KNS
Admin promise free movement of Ambulances & Staff, CRPF men thrash SKIMS staffer
