In a disturbing incident that has raised serious questions about patient safety and the efficacy of security protocols at one of Srinagar’s key healthcare facilities, a female patient was allegedly verbally molested at the entrance of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital in Rainawari on Wednesday. Compounding the trauma, a security officer on duty witnessed the entire episode but failed to intervene.
According to eyewitness accounts, the chaos erupted at the hospital’s main gate when an unidentified individual subjected the patient to lewd verbal assault. As the situation escalated, a security officer stationed nearby observed the commotion. However, instead of intervening to protect the patient and restore order, the guard remained a passive spectator.
“The security officer saw everything but did absolutely nothing,” a fellow patient told this reporter, expressing outrage over the apathy. “It is shocking that in a hospital, a place where the sick and vulnerable seek refuge, such behavior is tolerated.”
The incident has ignited widespread anger among patients and attendants, who have accused the hospital’s security fleet of being a mere “formality.” Allegations are rife that the security personnel are present only to “draw their salaries,” with little to no commitment to ensuring the safety of patients. “Despite the presence of hospital security personnel, mayhem and chaos often lead to unlawful activities. The handsomely paid security staff don’t do anything,” a patient alleged, highlighting a systemic failure in the hospital’s safety protocols.
Efforts to reach the Medical Superintendent (MS) for comment on the incident proved futile, as the official did not bother to respond to calls.
The JLNM Hospital, a premier district hospital in the Valley, has often been in the spotlight for its healthcare services and infrastructure upgrades. Recently, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq had chaired a review meeting at the hospital, emphasizing “patient-centric healthcare services” and warning against “any dereliction of duty”. Similarly, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo had conducted a surprise inspection of the facility, stressing the need for a clean and safe environment. However, Wednesday’s incident suggests a glaring gap between administrative assurances and on-ground reality.
This incident is not an isolated one. Patients and attendants have long complained about the inefficiency of the security apparatus at JLNM Hospital. With the chaos and rush that characterize the hospital’s daily operations, unlawful activities often go unchecked, leaving patients, especially women, vulnerable to harassment.
