Srinagar, May 1, KNT: Tension gripped the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, on Friday after a woman visitor was allegedly assaulted by a security guard, prompting attendants to stage a protest inside the hospital premises.
The woman, identified as Bisma Akhtar, a resident of Downtown Srinagar, said she had gone to visit a relative admitted in Ward No. 2 when she was stopped by a security guard. “He refused to let me enter without explaining the reason. When I questioned him, he behaved rudely and physically assaulted me. I cannot even describe the way he misbehaved,” Bisma alleged.
Witnesses said the incident triggered anger among attendants who soon gathered inside the hospital corridors, chanting slogans against the security staff and demanding strict action against the accused guard. “SKIMS looks more like a security camp than a hospital. These guards use abusive language and intimidate people who come here to see their patients,” said one of the protesting attendants.
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Another attendant claimed that such incidents had become routine. “These security guards act like they are running a police post inside a hospital. They insult, harass, and sometimes even beat up visitors. The administration should not remain silent anymore,” he said.
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Locals and attendants alleged that despite repeated complaints, the hospital administration has failed to take concrete action against the erring personnel. “This is not an isolated case. Last month, a visitor was beaten severely, and a few days later another was thrashed in full public view. The administration knows everything but prefers silence,” said a witness.
The protesters appealed to the SKIMS management and higher authorities to investigate the incident and ensure that security staff behave respectfully with visitors. “Hospitals are meant for care and compassion, not intimidation,” one protester remarked.
Efforts to contact Hospital authorities didn’t materialize. [KNT]
