CMO Bandipora loses temper; shout at cops for intercepting his vehicle

Journalist allege harassment by cops, protest at GMC against

SRINAGAR, May 26: Two days after an on duty cardiologist was allegedly thrashed and detained in Srinagar, police today intercepted official vehicle of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bandipora while he was on way to a quarantine centre at Nasoo.
Reports said the police intercepted official vehicle of CMO Bandipora, Dr Tajamul Hussain at a checkpoint at Nasoo and asked him to take alternate route, even as his driver pleaded cops to allow the vehicle to move as they have to reach quarantine and sample collection centre at Chitarnar urgently.
CMO Bandipora was heading towards Chitarnar forest area in his official vehicle fitted with emergency light when cops posted at the Nasoo checkpoint intercepted and asked him to take alternate route.
A video which has gone viral on all social media sites including facebook, WhatsApp, instagram and tweeter showed Dr Tajamul shouting at cops who did not allow his vehicle to move beyond the checkpoint.
“Who the hell you are, don’t you see this is CMO’s vehicle, how can you stop a CMO. We are risking our lives to protect people from Corona-Virus and you people harass doctors. You beat a doctor in Srinagar yesterday as well,” CMO Bandipora could be seen shouting at a cop who asked him to contact SP concerned in a viral video.
Dr Tajamul later contacted District Magistrate Bandipora for intervention; however cops refused to budge until a DySP rank police officer rushed to the spot to resolve the matter.
“I was heading towards Chitarnar forest area to visit quarantine and a sample collection centre. On reaching to Nasoo, my vehicle was stopped by policemen posted at the checkpoint. Despite repeated requests from my driver to allow us to go, cops did not listen and asked us to take alternate route,” said CMO Bandipora.
He said to see the behavior of police; he lost his temper and came down from his vehicle and shouted at them for barring them to perform their professional duty “it was only after the intervention of higher-ups we were allowed to go, otherwise they did not even talked to DM who asked me to let him talk to the cops on duty”
Meanwhile an Editor of local news daily also alleged harassment by police while he was discharging his professional duties. He said the police snatched his camera and deleted all photos he had clicked. The aggrieved journalist said he brought the issue into the notice of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar who assured an impartial probe to ascertain facts.
A senior Cardiologist posted at SMHS hospital here was allegedly detained and beaten by police two days ago. The police action against the doctor evoked protest at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar to seek action against the erring SHO.
Taking note of the incident, Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh has ordered impartial probe into the incident.