Jail doctors allege addicts threatening them, seek security

FARIDKOT: Fearing threat to their lives, medical officers (MOs) posted at Faridkot jail have demanded protection. MOs have accused addicts lodged in the jail of threatening them if their demand of drugs was not met. The doctors have threatened to stop treating addicts if they were not provided security. A delegation of MOs on Monday called on the district administration to seek security cover.

Dr Swaranjit Singh and Dr Sanjeev Kumar alleged, "When we treat addicts they ask for drugs from us. When we decline to accept their demand, they threaten us. We have informed authorities and if nothing is done, we may think of stopping treatment of addicts in the jail."

Faridkot jail has around 2,100 inmates and many of them are getting treatment at the de-addiction centre. Sources said that more than 50% inmates are into drugs and pose serious problems to jail authorities. More than a dozen inmates have lost lives in jail in a year and many of them died due to drug overdose.

When contacted, Faridkot deputy commissioner (DC) Mohammad Tayyab said, "Some doctors raised the issue of their security while treating addicts in the jail. I have called the doctors on Tuesday. The administration will look into their demand and jail authorities too will be asked to take care of addicts who threaten the doctors." Faridkot jail superintendent Kulwinder Singh said that special instructions had been issued for security of the medical officers.

http://ift.tt/1rFhvml Singh,Kulwinder Singh