Assault captured on CCTV, patients suffer
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, July 23: Resident doctors at SMHS Hospital today refused to attend to patients in the emergency department after one of their colleagues was allegedly assaulted by an attendant, disrupting patient care.
The assault, captured on CCTV, shows the doctor being slapped apparently by an attendant and falling to the ground from the force of the blow.
Soon after the incidents, doctors boycotted their duties and staged a protest.
Shahnawaz Ahmad, the assaulted doctor, said he was in the casualty performing his duties when an attendant attacked him out of nowhere.
He said, “I was in the casualty when a patient came in. I examined him and sent him to triage for resuscitation, but he died. Then one of his attendants came and slapped me. There was no security whatsoever.”
GMC Srinagar authorities, confirming the incident, said that FIR No. 11/2025 dated 23.05.2025 has been lodged and the police are handling the matter.
They stated: “Taking a very strong note of the incident that occurred on July 22, 2025 in SMHS Hospital, the Government Medical College Srinagar has initiated necessary action as per law against the culprits,” adding that further action will follow.
Following the incident, the doctors refused to resume duties, insisting on “no security, no work” and demanding the immediate arrest of the accused as well as proper security measures in the hospital.
The protesting doctors said it was tragic that while the rest of the world celebrates its doctors, in Kashmir they “fight for the right” to work without fear of assault.
“We want to remind the administration that their silence will be taken as complicity. Your inaction will breed more violence,” they said.
Due to the absence of the doctors, patient care in the emergency department was severely affected.
Patients already admitted and those arriving from different areas expressed anger and distress.
“They are demanding action, the FIR has been registered; but where are we supposed to go? Are they going to leave our patients to die?” an attendant said.
The resident doctors demanded immediate arrest of the culprits under non bailable charges applicable to assaults on healthcare workers, deployment of adequate trained security personnel in all critical care areas especially Emergency and ICU zones.
They also stressed for strict enforcement of a one attendant policy with legal action against violators, and institutional support and legal backing for any resident who is assaulted on duty.
They noted that the attack was not just on one individual but “on the dignity of every doctor who serves this system with dedication and compassion.”
They said, “The Emergency Department is a war zone. We treat the sickest patients, make life saving decisions under pressure, and deal with chaos daily. Yet despite giving our blood, sweat, and sanity to the system, we are repaid with blows, abuse, and humiliation.”
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