Asif Iqbal Naik
JAMMU, Mar 8: The State Government may be denying passports and Government jobs to many people on charges of even having remote association with pro-movement organizations or for their mere participation in anti-Government and pro-freedom protests, but ironically the directive excludes bureaucrats like incumbent Director Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) commonly known as Soura Srinagar, state's premier medical institute, Dr Showkat Ali Zargar, escaped from this punishment under law.
Zargar, according to Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) verification report, has remained associated with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and for his outstanding support to the militant outfit, an FIR stands registered against him in police station Soura in 2011, but no action has been taken against him.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Jammu and Kashmir in its letter the copy of which is available with Early Times addressed to Principal Secretary Home J&K Government Jammu vide letter No CID/NGO/ 296O dated 17th, November, 2011, titled "Participation in cross LOC Conclave at Istanbul (Nov 22-26) in respect of Director SKIMS Soura" writes "The background of Showkat Ali Zargar, Director SKIMS Soura is that he has remained affiliated with JKLF militant outfit in 1990-91."
The Director was discharged from services in 1993 and after his return from Saudi Arabia in 1998, he was re-engaged in SKIMS Soura in Gastroenterology faculty. During this period he continued his sympathies with JKLF," reads the report.
The CID report in response to Home department Letter No Home/Permission (Misc/ 2011-44- dated 15, November 2011) furnished by the then Inspector General of Police (IGP) further says "During 2010 unrest, he led a procession of doctors and paramedics in SKIMS Soura to express solidarity with the separatists. For this action, an open FIR 70/2010 u/s 124-A RPC has been registered in Police Station Soura. However no arrest was made."
The director is also accused of mismanagement at SKIMS, which has mostly affected the patient-care at premier hospital. "He has made a mess of the premier hospital and patients are suffering for want of specialized treatment. A few junior doctors enjoying a close rapport with the Director are running the show and ensure treatment only to those patients, who are close to the director," alleged an employee working in hospital.
Another employee on the condition of the anonymity said that patients have been asked to get most of the medicines and costly medical equipment from open market. In control room, experts have been sidelined and junior doctor allowed to run the show. The internal sources further informed that in order to grab the funds, the director misled the Chief Minister and got the lift service inaugurated in the hospital in recent past. The patients are the worst sufferers due to sheer mismanagement, the sources added. |
