Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jul 23: Tensions ran high at Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital on Wednesday after a shocking incident in which a young resident doctor from Uttar Pradesh was assaulted by an attendant of a critically ill patient who later succumbed to his condition.
The incident reportedly took place late Tuesday night in the hospital’s emergency ward.
Officials said the attendant became aggressive after the patient’s death and physically attacked Dr Shahnawaz – who himself is a specially-abled person due to polio – in full public view.
A CCTV video capturing the moment the doctor was assaulted has since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage across the medical community and beyond.
Dr Shahnawaz, said the incident took place at around 12:15 am on Tuesday. “I was at the medical reception when the patient was brought in. After assessing the patient, his vitals were not recorded, and he was sent to the triage room for further investigation. Unfortunately, the patient later died,” he said. “Following the death, an attendant in his 40s came and kicked me. There are no consultants, CMOs, or security personnel present at night, making it extremely risky for us to work under such conditions. We are here to serve patients, not to be assaulted. We demand a thorough investigation and legal action against the perpetrator.”
Family alleges medical negligence
This incident, as per the family of the deceased, came to the fore after a patient named Javid Ahmad, an employee of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), died due to alleged medical negligence at SMHS hospital.
Family members of Javid said that he had some pain in his heart and was brought to the hospital, where both the patient and attendants were pleading with doctors to keep him on oxygen. However, they claimed that doctors repeatedly denied this request.
The family said that even when Javid’s condition deteriorated, the same doctor who was later assaulted ignored his worsening state and asked for some medicine to be brought from outside.
Once his brother-in-law brought the medicine, they said Javid died, and doctors were laughing. In anger, his brother-in-law slapped the doctor, the family said.
They, however, said that slapping a doctor is wrong and sought an apology, but also added that alleged medical negligence led to Javid’s death.
Family members demanded access to the CCTV footage of the incident, saying it would clearly reveal how negligence led to Javid’s death. They called for an independent investigation and warned that anyone involved in negligence must face consequences.
Doctors protest, demand permanent security
The incident sparked a massive protest by resident doctors, interns, and other healthcare professionals from GMC Srinagar and its affiliated hospitals. Hundreds gathered within the hospital premises, raising slogans and demanding immediate action against the attacker. They also called for the implementation of robust, permanent security measures across all government healthcare facilities.
“We’re not here to be assaulted; we are here to save lives,” a protesting doctor stated. “This is not an isolated incident. Such attacks are becoming too frequent, and we cannot continue working in constant fear.”
The protesting doctors also expressed concern over alleged attempts to discourage them from speaking out. “We were told to stay silent, but how long can we remain silent while our safety is at risk?” questioned another doctor.
GMC Srinagar condemns assault
GMC Srinagar issued a statement condemning the assault. The administration said hospitals are “public institutions serving humanity” and appealed to the public, especially patient attendants, to remain calm and respectful during times of distress.
“Our doctors and staff are working round-the-clock under immense pressure. Any violence against them is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the statement read.
The college confirmed that legal action has been initiated, with an FIR (No. 11/2025) registered at the concerned police station. A senior police official confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and the accused will be brought to justice soon.
Doctors have warned that if their safety concerns are not addressed promptly, they may escalate their protests. “Today it was Dr Shahnawaz. Tomorrow, it could be any of us. We cannot perform our duties unless we feel safe,” said a senior resident doctor.
The medical fraternity has appealed to the administration to ensure that hospitals remain safe spaces for both patients and healthcare providers. They have called for strict security measures to prevent future incidents.
It is noteworthy that this is the second such incident in Jammu and Kashmir in recent days. Last week, a female doctor at GMC Jammu was physically assaulted by a patient’s attendant following his death in the hospital’s emergency ward. In the aftermath, doctors went on a two-day strike, which was only called off after FIR lodging and assurances from authorities that action would be taken.
