‘Sinister’ Minister On Run

‘Sinister’ Minister On Run

Medicos threaten to shut hospitals

Srinagar, Feb 11: The adage that law catches up with common man faster can’t be truer as the tainted former minister and senior Congress leader Shabir Ahmed Khan in Jammu and Kashmir continued to evade the arrest for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday.

Just a few months ago Tehelka magazine editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who faces the same charges as Khan was arrested hours after a FIR was registered against him.

Tarun Tejpal, 50, the former editor-in-chief of Tehelka, an investigative newsmagazine was arrested by Goa police under the Sections 376 and 354 of IPC after his subordinate lodged a complaint against him. He continues to be in the jail and has not been granted bail till date.

A lady doctor in Kashmir had filed a written complainant in Police station Shaheed Gung against Shabir Ahmad Khan then Minister of State for Health on the alleged molestation charges. Following the victim’s complaint a local court here issued arrest warrants against Khan but till date he is missing as police have failed to nab him.

While condemning the delay in arrest, an amalgam of doctors and health employees Tuesday announced a Kashmir-wide agitation. They threatened to shut down the hospitals if the disgraced minister is not arrested. “The delaying tactics are just acting as a catalyst in widening the trust deficit between the system of delivering justice and the turmoil-torn valley,”  a spokesman of the doctor’s association said.

He said that all the doctors and employees will wear black bands to protests against delay in justice in the molestation case. It will follow with strike in offices associated with the Health Department. And work in all hospitals including casualties would be suspended if government fails to arrest the accused Congressman.

Talking to precious Kashmir the Doctors Association of Kashmir president Dr Nissar Ul Haq said that when the government can arrest Tarun Tejpal who is facing  a case of molesting a girl, why police are yet to trace former Health minister.  According to him this seems a well planned conspiracy of Government to save the tainted minister.

Kashmir University Teachers Association President Prof Muhammad Yousuf Ganai said that it is shameful and highly regrettable that a person who has been enjoying a seat of power has indulged in such a crime. If proved true, the accused deserves exemplary punishment so that nobody can dare to attack the chastity of women in future. Such culprits should be brought to book at the earliest and punished severely.