Caught on Camera: Pulwama district hospital doctor abused by Municipal Councillor, FIR registered

Pulwama: In a video that went viral on social media, the Pulwama Municipal Councillor was seen abusing and shouting at an on-duty doctor from the district hospital in South Kashmir's Pulwama, following which the former was booked by the police and a probe has been ordered by the district administration.  

The police registered an FIR against the Pulwama Municipal Council’s chairperson for allegedly misbehaving with the doctors at the Pulwama district hospital on Monday, February 27. 

Also Read:Ayushman Bharat Fraud: 13 J&K hospitals empanelment suspended, Heavy penalties on 17 Others

The FIR was registered against Bilal Ahmad Rather based on a complaint from doctors and paramedical staff of the Pulwama district hospital. They accused Bilal of misbehaving with an on-duty staff of the hospital, hurling abuses on them and obstructing them from discharging their duties, leading to disturbance in patient care, the officials said.

In the FIR, the doctors stated, "On February 27, 2023, at around 6.30 pm, a man, namely Bilal Ahmad Rather, who is chairman of Municipal Council, barged in the duty room of a doctor who was on duty in the emergency department of the hospital. As soon as the person entered the hospital, the person started shouting and barged into the duty room of a doctor. He made a huge hue and cry and misbehaved with the doctor." 

The doctors and paramedical staff had written a letter to the concerned Medical Superintendent, demanding the registration of an FIR against the councilor as they alleged that miscreants entered the hospital room and began enquiring about the availability of USG at the hospital post 4.30 pm in a rash manner. 

The letter, accessed by Daily Excelsior, stated, "They obstructed patient care which could have caused death or a serious complication. The doctor accompanied the infuriated mob to the triage room where they began hurling abuses." Further, they stated that the doctor accompanied the “mob” to the triage room where they began abusing him, while he was listening. 

The letter noted, "He tried to make them understand about the non-availability of USG facility after 4.30 pm that day as the concerned Sinologist’s son was admitted to ICU, but still they were not in a mood to listen." They said, "He would have been lynched. We, therefore, request your good self to take stringent and exemplary action against the said person (Bilal Rather Councillor MC Pulwama) for his condemnable act." 

Further, they noted that if they are not safe while performing their duties then, "we are not supposed to work in an atmosphere where we would feel unsafe and insecure. We need appropriate assurance and safety for our lives in the future. We request your good self to lodge an FIR under relevant sections."

In the FIR copy, as reported in the Kashmir Life, the doctors stated, "There were many sick patients in the hospital at the time when the person made his entry into the hospital and the person shouted & hurled abuse at the doctor and was in a very aggressive mood. He was about to assault the doctor and wouldn’t have managed to stay away from this person. Meanwhile, he obstructed the doctor who was discharging his duties towards his patients and made a ruckus in the casualty department and was asking for a lock and key to lock the hospital, as seen in the video footage which created disruption in the patient care and could have caused death or serious complications to the critical patients admitted in the hospital."

The J&K Doctors Coordination Committee (JKDCC) has also written to the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama and sought action against the accused. Warning of a protest, the JKDCC wrote, "This action of blocking patient care could have resulted in the death or a serious complication in any of the critical patients. We the doctors are aggrieved and are waiting for action which your good self had assured us. Otherwise, we will be forced to go for a protest strike." 

The Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama Baseer ul Haq has directed the formation of a committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdul Aziz Sheikh to investigate the incident and submit the report within 3 days. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case under sections 353/506 of the IPC against the accused, and the probe is currently ongoing. 

Also Read:J&K: Medical Officer, Dental surgeon among five suspended for unauthorized absence