Probe ordered after cops ‘thrash’ ambulance driver

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday ordered a probe after an ambulance driver of the health department was allegedly beaten up by police personnel in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Sunday night.

Pulwama deputy commissioner Ragav Langer has appointed an additional DC as an inquiry officer and asked him to submit a report within a week.

The ambulance driver posted at Sub District Hospital, Zanipora was stopped by the police in Pulwama and allegedly beaten up ruthlessly when he was ferrying people in quarantine centres. He even suffered injuries.

Driver, Tariq Ahmad said that he was on duty and was asked to pick two persons from different places in Pulwama district. “Both the persons were under quarantine and I was asked to bring them back. After I picked one of them, I reached near circuit road Pulwama, when the policemen on duty stopped me and directed me to take another route as the road according to them was closed. Soon, I saw a vehicle coming from the same road, which they termed, was closed,’’ he said.

The driver added that he was not given permission to proceed further and when he objected, the cops started beating him. “I also received injures and when I contacted my colleagues they also reached the spot. My ambulance remained there and it was brought the next day to Shopian.”

“The communication received from the Shopian district magistrate on May 18 mentioned that one Shri Tariq Ahmad of Reben Shopian, ambulance driver of SDH Zanipora Shopian was allegedly beaten up by policemen at the checkpoint near Lyceum school Pulwama on Sunday evening.

Whereas he was reportedly shifted in another ambulance to Shopian for treatment. “Altaf Ahmad Khan, ADM is designated as inquiry officer to conduct an inquiry into the incident and furnish his conclusion within a week’s time possibly,’’ reads an order issued by Pulwama DC.

THE DRIVER WAS FERRYING PEOPLE IN QUARANTINE CENTRES WHEN HE WAS BEATEN UP BY PULWAMA POLICE