Authorities in Pulwama take formal action against attacks on health workers

PULWAMA — The district authorities in Pulwama have decided to take action against assailants who attacked medical staff in two separate incidents in Pulwama this week.

Yesterday, miscreants attacked a team from the Health Department who was visiting Trichal village of Pulwama to shift two COVID positive patients to an isolation center.

As per an official, the miscreants pounced on the health care workers, resulting in injuries to a Medical Officer and a lecturer. A community health officer was also assaulted while the team was trying to shift the COVID positive patients.

Meanwhile, in another such incident in Lassipora, the patients assaulted the staff at a COVID Care Center set up at MSME, IGC Lassipora. The patients, who are under isolation here, also resorted to damaging government property, said an official.

A staffer posted for patient care said, “At least three patients attacked me which led to an injury in my arm. While another staffer who was trying to pacify them was also attacked, resulting in an injury to his head.”

The inmates did not stop there and also damaged a transformer and caused damages in the washroom too, he added.

A senior official in the administration while confirming the legal action against the miscreants said, “We have initiated action against the assailants under Section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, in both the incidents.”

“Under these Sections, the acts of violence against medical staff become cognizable and non-bailable offense, besides providing compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for damage or loss to property,” he said.

Further, the relevant Sections of the DM Act and Section 188, 269, 270 IPC will be invoked in these twin incidents and “whosoever was involved in attacking the medical staff will not be spared.”