|
Dhule:
Barely few days after the release of new video footages
showing police vandalism and the consequent suspension of few police
personnel, a New Delhi based
NGO submitted in the Supreme Court the the Dhule Civil
Hospital record that shows an overwhelming number of policemen who were
said to be injured in the violence actually had no grievous
injuries and were told to go after examination in the Out
Patient Department (OPD).
“The Civil Hospital record shows that out of the total 159 people
including the policemen, who were injured and brought to the
hospital on January 06, only 19 were admitted in the hospital.
Rest all had non-grievous and simple injuries, and were discharged
after being examined in the OPD”, Shabnam Hashmi, chairperson of
ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) said while sharing the
documents with ummid.com.
The Dhule Civil Hospital record obtained by ANHAD, which has also
been included as evidence with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
filed in the Supreme Court to demand a probe into the riot by
Special Investigation Team (SIT), shows that out of the total 159
injured who were treated in the civil hospital on the day violence
broke out in the city, 59 identified them as policemen, 02 as fire
fighters and one as journalist. Others do not have occupation
mentioned against their names.
The record also shows that except for the 19 persons - including
11 who identified them as police, 140 had minor injuries either
due to blunt trauma, abrasion or scratches. The record describes
their injuries as ‘kirkol’ (simple and minor) and says they were given necessary
treatment in the OPD.
The record also shows that barring two persons with grievous
injuries – including one who identified him as police, 17 persons
out of the total 19 admitted in the hospital had ‘kirkol’ (simple
and minor) injuries that required admission and primary medical
observation.
When reached for his comment, Civil Surgeon Dr Govardhan Marutirao
Gaikwad did not divulge much on the details mentioned in the
record but said whoever was brought to the hospital was given
treatment as per medical need and accordingly details were
recorded.
“I was there in the hospital that day when people including the
policemen were brought to the hospital. They were given necessary
treatment in the OPD or admitted in the IPD in case it was
required”, he said while talking to the ummid.com.
Communal violence broke out in this northern Maharashtra city on
January 06 over non-payment of a food-bill. Police claimed it was
‘targeted’ and hence had to open fire to control the unruly mob.
Six people were killed and more than 40 others were injured in the
police firing. Barring one person from the Hindu community who is
injured in the firing, all those killed and injured in the police
firing are Muslims.
Guardian Minister Suresh Shetty a
day after the riot while speaking to the media persons had claimed that about 102
policemen including 11 officers were injured in the riot.
Local residents alleged that the police is exaggerating the figure
of their own men being injured in the violence to cover-up their
brutality and justify the indiscriminate firing.
They also blamed the police of using
excessive force, of participating in arson and looting, and firing
with an intention to kill.
“We have evidence to prove police excesses and its
brutality. It seems to cover up this fact so many policemen are
being shown as injured”, Dy Mayor Amin Shawwal said.
Following the allegations against
the police, the state government on January 15 announced a
Judicial probe headed by a retired high court judge into the riot.
The government however has not so far declared the name of the
judge who will conduct the probe.
Meanwhile, four police constables
have been suspended based on the preliminary examination of the
video footages.
|
Comments
|
Quick links