Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 2: Protests broke out at Kashmir valley’s lone maternity hospital, Lal Ded Memorial Hospital, against its authorities after an on-duty security person allegedly tossed a dead baby on floor.
Witnesses and family members said that one of the female attendants was holding the infant wrapped up in a blanket outside the operation theatre, when a security person deployed in the hospital for assistance of patients and attendants demanded Rs 50 from an attendant.
“The security personal demanded Rs 50 from the female as “Chai” (bribe, which has become a routine in the hospital and attendants are forced to pay) after she failed to produce the money, the security man pulled blanket from her lap and the deceased infant wrapped in it fell on floor,” witnesses said.
They said the blood started oozing from the mouth and nose of infant which caught the attention of everyone around the operation theatre.
Within minutes hundreds of people staged massive protest against the hospital authorities and demanded the immediate removal of accused from the job. The protesters also put the dead body on the main road and disrupted traffic for at least two hours early in the morning.
It was after the assurance from police officers who rushed to the spot that the protestors agreed to enter into the hospital compound and the traffic was restored.
Abdul Qayoom Khan, father of deceased infant told Excelsior that he had already paid a good amount to staff members even though his child was born dead.
“I paid Rs 200 to sweepers as ‘Chai’, who allowed me to keep my child there till completion of medical documents, but still the security personal did this shameful act,” Khan alleged.
Medical Superintendent, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather told Excelsior that they have immediately removed the accused security personal and also a three member enquiry committee was framed to look into the matter.
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