Ambulance drivers may go on strike .....
Srinagar, September 19: Ambulance drivers during the last three months have not only ferried patients but also hospital staff during curfew and strikes despite several instances of police and troopers attacking them. But this time around, with no let up in such incidents, the drivers have threatened to go on strike unless the 'violence perpetrated against them stops completely'.
"We have been subjected to constant harassment. Recently our 15 drivers were beaten by CRPF troopers leaving one critically injured. Four ambulances were seized (by the forces) at Narbal and it was only after divisional commissioner’s intervention that we managed to release them,” Ali Mohammad Dar, President of H.D.F (Hospital Development Fund) drivers association told Kashmir Dispatch.
Mohammad Yosuf, an ambulance driver of sub district hospital Chadoora, narrates how he was brutally beaten up by the government forces on September 16.
"I was on my way to pick up hospital staff from Nowgam to sub district hospital Chadoora. However, when I reached Nowgam bypass CRPF troopers stopped me and beat me up ruthlessly even after I showed them my identity card," he says.
Similarly forces at Pulwama allegedly beat up another ambulance driver Mohammad Shafi of Pahagam, Pulwama.
Under such circumstances, the drivers say, it’s difficult for them to continue with their work. “We request director Health Dr Amin Wani to to look into the matter and take quick action for our security else we have no option but to go on a strike,"
In response to these incidents doctors believe it was time for government to step in. “If this will continue the drivers of our department will go for strike. It is high time for authorities to pay attention to such incidents," said orthodontist Gowhar Yakoub of JVC.
While talking to Kashmir Dispatch, Prabakar Tripathi PRO CRPF said, "It is a false allegation on us. I have so far not received any complaint like it, but in case if there are more than 6 passengers in the ambulance than we check their identities and than we let them go
"We have been subjected to constant harassment. Recently our 15 drivers were beaten by CRPF troopers leaving one critically injured. Four ambulances were seized (by the forces) at Narbal and it was only after divisional commissioner’s intervention that we managed to release them,” Ali Mohammad Dar, President of H.D.F (Hospital Development Fund) drivers association told Kashmir Dispatch.
Mohammad Yosuf, an ambulance driver of sub district hospital Chadoora, narrates how he was brutally beaten up by the government forces on September 16.
"I was on my way to pick up hospital staff from Nowgam to sub district hospital Chadoora. However, when I reached Nowgam bypass CRPF troopers stopped me and beat me up ruthlessly even after I showed them my identity card," he says.
Similarly forces at Pulwama allegedly beat up another ambulance driver Mohammad Shafi of Pahagam, Pulwama.
Under such circumstances, the drivers say, it’s difficult for them to continue with their work. “We request director Health Dr Amin Wani to to look into the matter and take quick action for our security else we have no option but to go on a strike,"
In response to these incidents doctors believe it was time for government to step in. “If this will continue the drivers of our department will go for strike. It is high time for authorities to pay attention to such incidents," said orthodontist Gowhar Yakoub of JVC.
While talking to Kashmir Dispatch, Prabakar Tripathi PRO CRPF said, "It is a false allegation on us. I have so far not received any complaint like it, but in case if there are more than 6 passengers in the ambulance than we check their identities and than we let them go
ambulance drivers have done a great job during this turmoil
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