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Home > News > India News > Article > 2500 injured in non violent protest

2,500 injured in non-violent protest

Updated on: 26 August,2011 07:35 AM IST  | 
Sriraj Ray |

The cases, all reported within 36 hours, have been caused by incidents of pushing, shoving, frenzy and trampling, say doctors

2,500 injured in non-violent protest

The cases, all reported within 36 hours, have been caused by incidents of pushing, shoving, frenzy and trampling, say doctors

While the fact that a mass movement as large as the present civil unrest spearheaded by Gandhian crusader Anna Hazare is taking place completely peacefully is truly unprecedented, doctors at Ramlila Maidan reveal the other side of the coin.


Final cut! Doctors attend to an Anna supporter whose finger was badly
injured at the Ramlila Maidan yesterday. pic/mid day


Data collected at the India Against Corruption medical camp at Ramlila Maidan suggest that over 2500 patients have been treated for various injuries within a span of only 36 hours. While many of the injuries are due to pushing and shoving when passions run high, other injuries are due to bricks, rocks and slippery ground at the venue. Team Anna accuses the MCD of failing to provide supporters of this movement with a well-prepared venue.


Health hazard: Scene at the medical camp at Ramlila Grounds where
rights activist Anna Hazare is on his hunger strike in New Delhi. file pic


Dr. Sanjeev Chhiber, senior cancer specialist, who's heading the team of doctors at the medical camp said, "We have treated over 2500 people for different injuries since yesterday. Some get pushed around in the crowd and others fall prey to loose bricks." Dr. Chhiber added that had MCD cleared the ground properly, some of these cases could have been avoided.

Sonu, a resident of Ghaziabad who was taking part in the protests got a raw deal when his finger got fractured when the crowd pushed him a little too hard from behind. Sonu was holding on to the railings built to keep the crowd away from the stage when people in frenzy began to push and shove.

As Sonu fell to the ground, the middle finger of his left hand got twisted and fractured as it was stuck in between two railings. Sonu was unavailable for comments as he was screaming in pain and was rushed to the hospital after first aid. Dr. Chhiber said, "Sonu came in with a fracture on his left finger and we gave him first aid. He required stitching but we didn't have the equipment." Sonu's finger was bleeding profusely when he arrived at the camp and was brought there by at least five people.

While replying to allegations by Team Anna of negligence in completion of groundwork, Yogender Chandolia, MCD Standing Committee chairman put the blame back on them. "It is not our fault. We have completed all our work on time. If any nails or bamboo is lying around from the tent-making it is Team Anna's fault. They are the ones who built the same; all our work was completed on time in a proper manner," he said.

Reacting to the steep figure of 2,500 patients within such a short time period, Neeraj Kumar, member of Team Anna, who is co-ordinating with the doctors at the camp denied that such was the case. "I am in constant touch with the medical team. The figure is not so large. It is much less," he claimed.

Other injury cases involved persons who had cuts on their limbs especially the toes due to sharp stones and rocks at Ramlila Grounds. One man came in with the nail of the large toe of his right foot broken from the root. People had stepped all over his foot when the crowd rushed to Team Anna members distributing water. There was an acute water shortage at Ramlila Grounds.

Manoj Rajput, who had a cut on his left hand treated at the camp said, "My left arm got hurt when I fell on the ground as people rushed to get water. I wanted some water for my daughter who was thirsty because of the heat. The government should provide proper water for us here."




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