RK cameraman among journalists assaulted by doctors at SMHS Hospital

Srinagar, July 23: Arif Khan, a cameraman with Rising Kashmir, was allegedly assaulted by protesting resident doctors at Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital on Wednesday. His camera was reportedly damaged during the incident.Along with Khan, Sufi Hidayah from The Mandate and Javid Pathan from Khabar Urdu were also allegedly heckled by the doctors. The protesting medicos also obstructed the journalists from carrying out their reporting duties inside the public hospital premises.“As a female journalist, I was harassed, pushed, and misbehaved by the protesting doctors at SMHS. It’s disturbing how doctors—meant to heal—turned into a mob, forgetting their oath and attacking the media that was trying to report the truth. Shameful. None of us justifies the assault on any doctor, but shutting doors on patients and refusing treatment is inhumane,” Hidayah said in a post on Instagram.Firdous Ahmad, a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, said he was also harassed and heckled by the protesting doctors while they were covering the protest.“A female reporter was pushed. The protesting doctors—mostly non-locals and female—harassed and misbehaved with us,” he said.One of the journalists present at the scene confirmed that a written complaint has been filed at Karan Nagar Police Station, seeking strict action against the doctors involved in the incident.