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Communalism Violence

Delhi HC convenes late night hearing, directs DCP to ensure safe passage for ambulances

Late night drama unfolds as ambulances prevented from helping affected people, CJP makes video appeal to police to help people during this humanitarian crisis

ambulance

The intervening night between February 25 and 26, 2020 remained tense as large parts of North East Delhi continued to burn. But things came to a head when ambulances were prevented from entering minority neighbourhoods to help injured people there.

Pro Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) groups allegedly laid virtual siege to the Mustafabad area preventing people suffering from critical injuries, some of them bullet wounds, from getting urgent medical attention. Moreover, patients at the nearby Al Hind Hospital who required more specialized care were also prevented from moving out of the hospital. Repeated attempts to seek help from the Delhi police failed to bear fruit and injured people were virtually held hostage by pro-CAA groups.

In a series of tweets Aam Aadmi Party member Shalin Mitra explained the dire situation:

 

 

 

CJP had also been receiving desperate calls of help for several hours. Late at night CJP secretary Teesta Setalvad made a video appeal to Delhi Police to take cognizance of the humanitarian crisis unfolding around them and asking them to ensure safe passage for ambulances.

 

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Around midnight, activist Rahul Roy moved Delhi High Court leading to a two-judge bench convening a special hearing late at night at the home of Justice S Muralidhar. He and Justice AJ Bhambhani heard the phone testimony of Dr Anwar of Al Hind Hospital who informed the court that 2 people were dead and 22 injured were at the hospital. Al Hind is a small hospital and is unable to provide the critical care required by many of the injured.

The court then directed Deepak Gupta, DCP East Delhi to reach the hospital and ensure safe passage for the injured so that they may be transferred to GTB Hospital, LNJP Hospital, Maulana Azad Hospital or any other hospital where they can get the care they deserve. The court order may be read here: 

 

 

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