New Delhi: A high-voltage drama unfolded outside a Patiala government hospital after a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) constable admitted there alleged that patients were being supplied drugs at the facility. He was taken into custody on charges of sharing misinformation and preventing government officials from discharging duties.
The constable, who was undergoing treatment for depression, alleged he saw people openly taking drugs in a hospital washroom, with syringes lying around. He claimed that despite raising a complaint, no action was taken. Instead, he alleged, police arrested him and beat him in custody.
Police, however, said the section of the hospital in question was a de-addiction unit and that the syringes belonged to addicts.
The matter began after Sonu Singh (35), an SSB constable of the 70th regiment, visited Rajindra Hospital in Patiala for treatment on 23 October.
“I had been diagnosed with depression and visited the hospital for further treatment. The doctor suggested that I get admitted,” Singh told ThePrint over a call.
For the next five days, Singh was provided treatment at the government facility where he claims to have seen several instances of de-addiction patients getting supplies of “chitta” and “syringes”.
“There were syringes on the floors of bathrooms and chitta papers being supplied to patients who came for deaddiction. It all starts with patients coming for treatment. They first get them admitted and then begin supplying them drugs,” said Singh.
Seeing syringes lying on bathroom floors, Singh allegedly told the doctors to get the bathrooms cleaned. “Despite informing them, nobody cleaned the premises and when I showed them a video I shot on my phone, they began to threaten me,” he said.
As the matter escalated, Singh alleged the doctors called two local police officers. “One ASI arrived in uniform and another in civilian clothes. They then began asking me questions and when I showed the video, the officer threw my phone and tried snatching my wife’s phone,” said Singh.
To settle the matter, Singh asked the hospital authorities to relieve him, he said. “The doctor agreed to release me but with a note that the premature discharge was owing to the disciplinary actions to which I raised my concerns,” said Singh.
SP (Patiala) Mohit Aggarwal said that Singh during his stay at the hospital had entered the de-addiction centre where “belongings” of addicts and criminals who were brought to the centre for treatment were kept.
“He wanted no treatment, and kept asking the doctors to give him a certificate of medical rest that he wanted to show at his workplace. When he was denied, he began making misleading videos and threatening the doctors,” said the SP.
As per the SP, conversations with Singh’s wife and brother have indicated that he is “struggling with mental health”.
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‘Tried self-harm’
While Singh accepted that he has been undergoing treatment for depression he denies the allegations levelled by the police about being mentally stable.
“I tried self-harm earlier this month while posted at Lakhimpuri Kheri. On the same day, another colleague did the same. He succumbed, I survived. Both of us had clearly written that the seniors were responsible for this and subsequently an enquiry began against me,” Singh said.
“I have served in sensitive locations like Kashmir, Naxal-affected Bihar, and been working for 15 years, I think I know when people are being supplied drugs,” Singh said.
Singh further alleged that on 28 October, when he was sitting outside the hospital with his wife, Chiranjeet Singh, a senior officer in civil uniform approached him and after a heated conversation, asked him to submit a written complaint about the hospital.
“When I tried submitting it, a constable snatched it from me and began running. I ran after him and we both fell on a barbed wire and were both hurt,” he added.
Later in the evening, the SSB constable alleged that he was picked up from the spot taken to the police station and beaten up until he lost consciousness. “I was bleeding from mouth and lost consciousness that night, and only regained consciousness the next morning in the hospital,” he said.
Meanwhile, police denied the allegations that Singh was hit at the police station.
Meanwhile, the Patiala police has registered an FIR against Singh on the basis of a complaint received from the hospital authorities. Singh has been booked under sections of the BNS related to criminal intimidation, stopping a public servant from discharging his duties.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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