C'garh police, doctor decry Air Chief's remark

A day after Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne appeared to belittle the injuries to the Chhattisgarh constable who was abandoned by Air Force personnel in an immobile helicopter in Naxal territory, the state police and doctors reacted strongly, describing the Air Chief's statement as "inhuman" and "extremely unfortunate".

At a press conference in Bangalore, Browne had remarked that wireless operator Yem Lal Sahu was "recovering well", and that an Air Force official had found him "sitting on a sofa having a cup of tea" last week.

Dr Sandeep Dave, director of Ramkrishna Care Hospital, where Sahu is admitted, told The Indian Express Friday, "What does he (Air Chief) mean by 'having tea sitting on a sofa'? We will have to give him something to eat... He is on a soft diet. Just recently we began giving him something."

"He (Sahu) remains in bed, we are trying some movements in his limbs. He is not in a condition to do anything. His police career is over. If they (IAF) do not understand his mental and physical condition, we cannot do anything. It is plain inhuman to make such statements," Dr Dave added.

Dave refuted Browne's claim that IAF officials had visited the hospital "last week". He added that the officials who came had not consulted any doctor about Sahu's condition.

"They were here just 2-3 days before, and left without meeting any doctor. Attendants requested them to meet us but they were not bothered, or probably did not have the time. How can you know a patient's condition by just seeing him, without bothering to even meet his doctors?" Dave said.

Doctors are yet to allow police to record Sahu's statement. ADG (Naxal Ops) R K Vij told The Indian Express that it was "extremely unfortunate" that Sahu's situation was being "ignored".

... contd.

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