Sharafat Manzoor
Handwara : The family members and relatives of a Handwara teenager who died due to critical head injury after being assaulted by some persons over a family dispute Tuesday staged a protest outside the office of Assistant Development Commissioner Handwara demanding stern action against the assailants. They also alleged that after declaring positive for Covid-19, the boy was not attended by the doctors at SMHS Hospital Srinagar.
After the death the hospital authorities at SMHS Hospital Srinagar had said the deceased had also tested positive for Coronavirus, and that it was a “medico-legal case” with a serious head injury besides bilateral pneumonia.
“He was only 18 and when declared positive for Covid-19, the doctors didn’t attend him and he was left at lurch. We demand stern action against the doctors at SMHS Hospital,” the protesting family members told news agency KNT.
“The deceased was admitted on June 12 with head injury. His sample was collected on June 13 which returned positive for the virus,” said Dr Nazir, Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital adding that it was a ‘medico-legal’ case.
The protesting family members said that after being assaulted by goons and hit with an axe, the boy was shifted to Primary Health Centre Monbal where from he was referred to District Hospital Handwara. “If he was positive then why don’t authorities put staffers of these two hospitals in quarantine as they came into his contact,” they questioned and alleged that the boy caught Covid-19 infection at SMHS Hospital.
Abdul Khaliq and Nazir Ahmed, the family members of the deceased youth told KNT that they wanted post mortem should be conducted on the body, but it was not done. “The assailants who attacked this boy are very influential and we are sure he was declared positive for Coronavirus on their behest,” they said.
BJP district president for Kupwara, Muhammad Shafi who visited the family too demanded arrest of the culprits and stern punishment to them.
Local sources said that the boy was attacked after deceased’s brother eloped with a girl of the area a few days back. The relatives of the girl spotted the brother of the accused four days back and thrashed him ruthlessly. He suffered serious head injury and died due to that.
A police official said that an FIR vide number 59 of 2020 under section 323, 452, 302 already stands registered at police station Qalamabad Handwara and so for 4 accused have been arrested.
ACD Handwara assured protesters that those responsible for the murder of the boy will be dealt sternly under law. (KNT)
