Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Jan 18: Police have started probe to track down the culprits who started polio death rumor yesterday, creating panic among people that led to violence at several hospitals.
A senior police officer told Excelsior that the directions have been passed to the cops-based in all the districts of the Valley to track down the persons who started the rumors of polio deaths. “We have launched the probe but so far no one has been arrested. The culprits, once identified, shall not be spared,” he said.
Meanwhile, the aggrieved crowds last evening vandalized the property at several hospitals of the Valley including Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) and Valley’s lone pediatric hospital, GB Panth here. The mobs also thrashed and harassed several doctors.
Principal Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospital, Dr Kaiser Ahmad, told Excelsior that the situation was extremely dangerous at GB Panth and SMHS hospitals as the crowds smashed window panes, tables and glasses at these two places.
“However, we managed to control the situation in short span of time. We made announcements and tried to make people understand that no one has been given expired vaccines. The media also played positive role in dispelling the rumors,” he said. The Principal said the doctors were harassed at both these hospitals and at GB Panth a faculty member was thrashed.
The anxious crowd in Sopore Town of Baramulla district stoned the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore and thrashed doctors. Block Medical Officer (BMO) Sopore, Dr Sami told Excelsior that the unruly mob damaged the equipments in the Emergency Block of the hospital, smashed window panes and also thrashed two medicos.
“Two of doctors were roughed up by the mob. The mob also pelted stones on hospital which resulted in injury to one of employees. They caused extensive damage to the hospital infrastructure,” he said, adding a case has been registered in this regard.
The GMC Principal said they have no information from where the rumor originated but said the situation could have taken “a very ugly turn” if the things would not have been controlled on time. “The culprits need to be identified and exemplary punishment should be given to them,” he said.
The Principal, who is also child specialist, urged the people not to vandalize hospital properties and thrash doctors in the times of crisis.
He said they have not registered any case with police vis-à-vis vandalizing of hospital properties and thrashing of doctors.
Meanwhile, twelve persons were injured after they were rushing towards hospital near Circuit House Shopian in south Kashmir following the polio death rumor. The injured were travelling in a platform vehicle and it skidded off the road, resulting in injuries to them.
The injured, which include children also, were rushed to District Hospital Shopian for treatment and later six of them were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. Police have registered a case in this regard.
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