New Delhi: On February 25, 2020, when 22-year-old Mohammad Imran, a welder, and his friends were standing in a lane near their house in Old Mustafabad, a violent mob wearing helmets and armed with rods, knives and guns entered the lane. While trying to escape the rioters, Imran and his friends heard a loud gunshot. Shamsuddin, Imran’s father, was also standing a few meters away. He said, “Hamare pair jam gaye, phir hum kisi tarhan bhaagay (My legs froze, and then somehow managed to move)”.
It was then that Shamsuddin saw that Imran bleeding. He and another family member managed to carry Imran away and get to safety. Upon reaching home, they realised Imran had been shot in the genitals and that his scrotum had been torn open.
The same evening, the family took Imran to Al Hind Hospital for treatment where his right scrotal sac was removed and he received 85 stitches. Subsequent to his surgery, the hospital refused to give any medical records to Imran and sent him to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) for preparation of an MLC.
At LNJP, the family says, an MLC and medical record seem to have been prepared. Even though a number of the MLC is reflected on the medical record provided to Imran by the LNJP, a copy of the MLC was never given to Imran. The medical record provided to Imran by the LNJP specifically states that he was injured during the protests and had received 15 cm long stitches in the genital area. The report fails to mention any detail about a testicle being removed post operation.
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While the hospital took the time to note that the injury took place during the protests, however it did not find it necessary to mention that the area had already been operated upon when he was brought into the hospital. The hospital also stated that ‘no surgical intervention was needed’ and that Imran was discharged on oral medication. When Imran that he be admitted, he was specifically informed that the hospital did not have any empty beds. Imran had to thus take the help of locals NGOs for all further treatment.
As Imran continued to experience pain in the injured area, he approached various doctors, all of whom informed him that his right scrotal sac had been removed during the surgery. As per the Scheme sanctioned by the Delhi government for victims of the February riots, a victim is entitled to Rs 20,000 for a simple injury, Rs 2,00,000 for a grievous injury and Rs 5,00,000 for permanent incapacitation. As per the procedure followed, on examination of the victims, an MLC is prepared by the hospital where the operating doctor categorises the injury in any of the above-mentioned categories.
As a copy of the MLC was not provided to Imran, he was unable to provide a copy of the MLC along with his compensation form. As such, after following up with the sub-divisional magistrate for over six months, Imran received a meagre amount of Rs 20,000 from the Delhi government as compensation for having lost his right scrotal sac during the riots.
In any case, as incorrect findings have been recorded in the medical record provided to Imran, it is unlikely that the MLC would have reflected a different record.
With the family in desperate need to fin funds for Imran’s treatment, they approached the Delhi high court seeking adequate compensation. On December 4, while taking note of the fact that findings recorded on the medical record provided by LNJP (where it is recorded that no surgical intervention was needed) are contrary to the findings in the medical record placed on record by Imran (where it is recorded that Imran’s right scrotal sac had been removed), Justice Navin Chawla directed the Superintendent of LNJP to constitute a medical board to re-examine Imran’s injury and generate a report that describes the case in a detailed manner.
This is the first time that the high court has directed a hospital to re-examine a victim of the Delhi riots. The matter was argued by advocate Aanchal Tikmani.
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Shamsuddin has also alleged that the staff at LNJP behaved in a very hostile manner with Imran. He says, “Reception waali ek madam ne humse kaha, ‘Tumhe jab sharam nahi aai jab patthar baazi kar rahay thay? Ab goli lag gai toh yahan aagaye ho ke sarkar madad karegi’ (The woman at the reception accused us of being stone pelters and made comments about how we expect help upon being shot)”.
Teary-eyed, Shamsuddin added, “Sab kehne lagay tera ladka kharab hogaya, uski shaadi bhi honay waali thi, rishta hi toot gaya phir (Everyone tells me that your son is good for nothing now, he was about to get married, the engagement has also been broken)”.
For Imran, the constant pain he has been in since February is a persistent reminder of the bodily loss he has had to endure. A welder, he cannot perform simple daily tasks without experiencing piercing pain. He says, “Jab koi poochta hai main kaisa hoon, mere paas jawaab hi nahi hota… 9 mahinay se sirf dard mehsoos hota hai har jagah (When someone asks me how I’m doing, I don’t have any answers… for the past nine months, all I have felt is pain)”.
Dejected over the severity of the injury, Imran does not make much eye contact as he talks. His life, he says, has become a constant cycle of harassment.
Another victim in the same petition, Shokat Ali, who was shot in his left thigh when he crossed Chaman Park’s Aqsa Masjid February 25, has also been asked to appear before the medical board. Shokat’s medical record provided by the Lok Nayak Hospital states: “Injury during protests at Mustafabad around 1 pm.” The medical documents provided by the hospital in his case as well downplay and outrightly fail to mention the actual nature of injuries. A copy of the MLC has not been provided to Shokat till date either.
After due hearings and processes, Imran and Shokat were asked to appear for re-examination before a medical board to be constituted at the Lok Nayak Hospital on December 18, 2020.