Musavirr Wani & Shabir Ibn Yusuf
SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Police today fired bullets and teargas shells inside the
emergency and causality wards of Valley’s premier hospital Shri Maharaja Hari
Singh (SMHS) Hospital where large number of injured were being shifted for
treatment who fought injuries in police firing at various places during march
towards Muzaffarabad. They had moved in various parts of Srinagar city to cross
the LoC and police opened fire upon them.
The firing, tear gassing and cane charge caused panic in the hospital with
doctors, paramedical staff and attendants of people running helter and skelter.
Some of the injured also became victim of police action. The other injured
remained in the hospital unattended for a long time.
Earlier one Ishfaq Ahmad Qanna of Qamarwari succumbed to his injuries in SMHS
hospital. Till late hours no one had the exact data how many were injured by the
brutal police action in various parts of the city. While talking to the hospital
management they also failed to keep a count of the injured persons.
When dozens of injured people were carried in ambulances, trucks, light motor
vehicles local police opened fire on the gate of SMHS hospital where hundreds of
people were carrying the injured persons for treatment.
People had also reached the hospital to donate blood before police opened
firing. According to the eyewitness, police fired at the people and lobbed
teargas shells towards hospital which caused panic in the hospital. From
patients to their attendants everyone was helpless and running for life.
Muneer Ahmed, attendant of a patient said, “I went outside to get medicines for
my mother who is admitted here for last 4 days. Hundreds of people were being
carried towards the hospital for the treatment and when civilians were helping
them the cops of Karan Nagar police station with nearest battalion of CRPF
opened fire and lobbed teargas shells towards the masses. Everyone was running
for life and I did the same”.
He added, “I do not know from where something strong hit my right leg and I fell
down. When I checked my leg it was profusely bleeding and due to stampede my
wounds t started aching. When I was made to rest on bed then I came to know a
bullet had hit my leg”.
Doctors of the hospital were very in a state of shock and absolutely helpless.
The brutal police action inside the hospital premises had sparked anger.
Talking to The Kashmir Times, a senior doctor in-charge in SMHS causality said,
“Local Police have shown the real meaning of Indian democracy. Is this the
democracy which they are always talking about? Which bravery medals are they
going to receive from Kuldeep Khoda for firing on civilians and that too inside
the hospital. We had never thought about this brutal act which police indulged
in inside the hospital. Without any provocation people were helping the injured
ones here and police opened fire to kill them for helping their brethren who
were injured and killed at other places in Srinagar”.
He also added that maximum patients had injuries on their abdomen and legs which clearly proves that police has not fired in air but directly on protesters. Eye-
witness also said, “Pro- Pakistan slogans, anti-India, anti-police and anti- BJP
slogans were raised inside the causality ward by doctors, patients and their
attendants against the police action.
He also said that several window panes of different hospital wards were also
broken by the teargas shells which pierced through the windows. Number of
patients were shifted from those wards to other wards.
Adil Ahmed who had come with his cousin brother from Parimpora where his cousin was injured by a police bullet was also severely injured at the gates of SMHS. He said, “I was coming in a Maruti with my cousin to the hospital. As soon as we got him out of the car I heard a bullet sound and within fraction of a second it pierced into my right thigh. I was in confusion who will carry my cousin and who
will carry me, but within few seconds a group of youngsters came and shifted us
to the causality. It is terrible that our own police fired on us when we were
carrying our beloved ones who were injured”.
Maximum patients who were referred to SMHS belonged to Parimpora, Qamarwari, and Safakadal. Police had opened fire on the procession which had a strength of around 20,000 people in these areas. Among the injured, several Hurriyat activists were also injured. Talking to Nissar Ahmed who had injuries on both his knees said, “I do not know how many have been killed by the police. Unhonein khuley aam goliyan maari, inka maksad kuch nahi tha, khaali Kashmiri aur Kashmiriyat ko khatam karma tha” (These people fired on masses without any
hesitation. Their plans were obvious to finish Kashmiri people and put an end to
Kashmiriyat).
Talking to another doctor who was performing duty in the causality ward said, I
was outside when police fired on people outside hospital. I escaped a bullet
which landed just an inch away from my belly. This is the worst picture of
democracy. I am confused why the same police were hesitating from firing in
Jammu when they crossed every limit and for helping our brothers here they
simply fired on us. This is the turning point in Kashmir history and we all are
ready with our brothers who are marching towards LoC”.
Syeda Asiya Andrabi, head of Dukhtaran-e-Milat was also among the injured. She
alleged that SHO Parimpora detained them in a room, beat them with gun butts and lathis.
Meanwhile, the eyewitness in the hospital and the management of SMHS said that
shortage of cramer wire, adhesive tape, bandages, medicines and pain killers
have crippled them and the injured ones are facing the brunt. All the doctors
and paramedic staff of SMHS are wearing black bands as mark of protest against
the brutalities and atrocious behaviour of police inside the hospital.
Mobs also attacked the Karan Nagar police station just outside the gate of SMHS.
The police were seen begging for their lives and at the end police called CRPF
battalion for help. CRPF once again opened fire and lobbed teargas shells on the
masses that were outside the gate of SMHS.
A similar situation was noticed in the Bones and Joints Hospital Srinagar where
around four dozen injured were brought from various parts of the valley. Maximum patients referred here belonged to Pulwama, Parimpora and Qamarwari.
While talking to a senior doctor of Bones and Joints Hospital, Dr. Ramzan said,
“We have medicines and cotton only for next 24 hours. We have borrowed cotton
and X-ray films from some international agency. If the situation will remain
same I fear that we will be totally helpless. Authorities added that around 7
rubber bullets were taken out of 5 patients,”he said.
All the doctors were called on emergency basis and keeping this war like
situation in view all the leaves have been cancelled and they have been asked to
report back. Reports from SKIMS Soura also said that around one dozen patients who had critical injuries were shifted from SMHS. But the lack of medicines, bandages and other important aids are unavailable and can cause several deaths.
Meanwhile, the mob destroyed the CRPF bunker which was inside the SMHS. The mob warned CRPF personnel to evacuate from the bunker but they showed resistance and bashed up several youth. At the end CRPF vacated the bunker and the mob destroyed it.
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