Pregnant woman beaten by Indian troops; mother and fetus critically injured

Even expecting mother not spared during curfew

Greater Kashmir August 29

'Leave men, CRPF women troopers are ruthless'

ARIF SHAFI WANI


Srinagar, Aug 28: A would be mother yearns for the day when she would give birth to a new born baby but this yearning turned into nightmare for the 31-year old Afrooza who was subjected to inhuman treatment by paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men on her way to maternity hospital.
Writhing in pain, Afrooza lies in lap of her husband on a bed in labour room of Lal Ded hospital, where gynecologists are fighting hard to save the fetus, which she preserved dearly for more than eight months. The incident took place on Tuesday (August 26) at Hyderpora when Afrooza was on her way to Lal Ded Hospital. She was ruthlessly beaten up by CRPF troopers who didn't pay heed to her repeated pleas that she is pregnant and needs immediate medical aid.
She lost lot of blood due to beating and had to be operated upon. Doctors say due to serious injuries there are minimal chances of the survival of the fetus.
"The female CRPF troopers severely thrashed me without any reason," Afrooza told Greater Kashmir.
Afrooza hails from Maisuma and had gone to her parental home at Hyderpora so that in case of emergency she would get admitted in a private maternity nursing home there.
However, destiny had something else in store for her. When Afrooza developed pain she was admitted in the private nursing home but doctors there referred her to the Lal Ded Hospital.
"When we reached Hyderpora, a group of women CRPF troopers stopped our vehicle. I pleaded before them to allow us to move towards the hospital. However, they dragged Afrooza out of the car," said Afrooza's mother, Zaina.
"I pleaded before the troopers that I am expecting a baby and have to immediately reach the hospital. But they hit my stomach and private parts with rifle butts and batons. I helplessly cried for mercy but they continued to thrash me. Finally I started to bleed profusely and fell unconscious," she said and broke down.
With the help of some pedestrians, who carried curfew passes and were out only because of some urgency, she was rushed to the hospital. "Due to continuous bleeding her haemogram is dangerously low. She was profusely bleeding from cervical area and had to be operated upon to
stop bleeding. Her fetus has minimal chances of survival," said a doctor wishing anonymity.
"Leave men, CRPF women troopers are ruthless," she said.
Her husband, Jan Muhammad, will soon register a case against CRPF.
"I will file a case against the accused troopers. If the police does not register the case I will approach the Court. I want justice. They nearly killed my wife," he shouted.
Most of the patients and attendants in the crowded labour room of valley's sole maternity hospital fume with anger seeing the condition of Afrooza.
She is also referred as lady who bore the brunt of merciless thrashing by CRPF troopers.