Delhi man injured in police custody dies after 4 hospitals refuse treatment

Pramod was seriously injured after he jumped from a moving police patrol vehicle while being taken to a police station

A 47-year-old man, who was seriously injured after he jumped from a moving police patrol van while being taken to a police station in northeast Delhi in an inebriated condition, died early Wednesday morning after being refused treatment at three government hospitals in a span of seven hours, the Delhi Police said.

The critically injured man died after four government hospitals refused treatement. (Representative photo)

During that time, which in medical parlance is called the critical “golden hours”, the injured man was taken to three hospitals – Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) and Lok Nayak Hospital — run by the Delhi government — and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital — managed by the central government. Police said that the man was accompanied by a woman doctor from Jag Pravesh Chandra (JPC) Hospital (another government-run facility) to the three hospitals in an ambulance, despite which the treatment was denied.

He was first admitted to JPC hospital around 9.30pm on Tuesday by two personnel of the police van, soon after he jumped through its window near the New Usmanpur police station. He succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the JPC hospital at 5.45am, said deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Joy Tirkey.

“The man, identified as Pramod Kumar, was first referred to GTB hospital but because of unavailability of a CT-Scan (in the hospital), he could not be admitted and was referred to Lok Nayak Hospital. However, because of the unavailability of beds with ICU ventilators, he could not be admitted there as well. He was then rushed to RML hospital but the hospital authorities denied admission saying beds were unavailable. The injured man was again brought back to JPC hospital, where he died during treatment,” said Tirkey.

HT reached out to health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj who said that he has sought an explanation from the three hospitals concerned, adding that if the Delhi government’s Farishtey scheme was fully operational, the victim could have been taken to a private hospital for treatment.

“This issue has been raised by me several times that due to non-payment of bills of private hospitals amounting in crores of rupees, they are now reluctant to admit road accident victims under the Farishtey scheme, wherein they are mandated to provide cashless treatment... First responders like Delhi Police are taking patients to far away government hospitals. Patients are being denied emergent medical treatment,” said Bharadwaj.

Meanwhile, the administration at Lok Nayak Hospital also said they were looking into the matter and a detailed inquiry will be conducted on the allegations. However, the administrations at GTB hospital and RML hospital did not respond queries seeking comments.

Senior police officers said since Kumar was injured in police custody and later died because of it, a magisterial inquiry was initiated into the matter and the local sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) has started a probe.

The Delhi government was approached by the city police to constitute a panel of doctors to conduct the autopsy. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was informed about the incident and subsequent police steps through an action taken report filed by the northeast police district, the officers said and added that the concerned metropolitan magistrate was also apprised about the matter.

Sharing details of the incident in which Kumar was taken into police custody, DCP Tirkey said that around 9pm on Tuesday, the police control room received a call from a 21-year-old woman living in Shanti Mohalla in New Usmanpur, alleging that she was abused and molested by a drunk man, who was also quarrelling with her at a nearby parking lot. Subsequently, the call was marked to the nearest available police control room (PCR) van, which was driven by constable Imran (who goes by a single name), while its in-charge was assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Mintu (who also goes by his single name).

Subsequently, the police van reached the spot and met the complainant. A few minutes later, the investigating officer (IO), whose name was not revealed by police, from the New Usmanpur police station also arrived. The IO left for Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital with the complainant for her medical examination and to record her statement. Kumar, who the police said was drunk, was arrested from the spot and was bundled into the Maruti Ertiga police van to be taken to the Usmanpur police station by the two policemen, added Tirkey.

“Kumar was seated in the rear seat while ASI Mintu was in the front passenger seat. Kumar was vomiting. The van was nearly 100 metres away from the police station when Kumar opened the van’s rear window on the pretext of vomiting and jumped out. He fell on the road and suffered multiple injuries including on his head. The policemen admitted him to JPC hospital and then left to attend other distress calls,” said Tirkey.

According to police, Kumar was given medical treatment for nearly an hour at JPC hospital. However since he had serious head injuries and the CT-Scan facility was not available, the doctors there referred him to GTB hospital — the second location where he could not be admitted due to the unavailability of CT-Scan — with the woman doctor from JPC.

“Apart from the GTB hospital, two more hospitals — LNJP and RML — failed to provide him with immediate medical attention. It’s strange that no hospital could give him proper medical treatment,” said the DCP.

When asked if any departmental action was taken against the two personnel from the police van for the alleged custodial death, deputy commissioner of police (operations and PCR) Anand Mishra said, “An inquiry is being done by the magistrate concerned. We are waiting for the report. Further action will be taken as per the magistrate’s recommendations.”

Police said a case of molestation, sexual harassment and assault was later registered at the police station on the woman’s complaint. Kumar was found previously involved in two cases including that of attempt to murder, which was registered at the New Usmanpur police station in 2015. He is survived by his mother, brother, wife, and three children and had been unemployed for a few years.

HT reached out to Kumar’s family who refused to comment on the matter.