Cops scan records of 53 Pak-Hindu doctors

AHMEDABAD: Allegations of rape raised by a 22-year-old dengue patient in ICU has put all Pakistani Hindu doctors practising here on long-term visa in peril. They had fled the hostile environment in Pakistan, to the safety of Ahmedabad. But now, the alleged misdeed of one has left all of them vulnerable to vagaries of 'regulation raj'.
While the Ahmedabad special branch (SB) is still to receive a report on the 'ICU rape', they have begun scrutinizing the records of about 52 such Pakistani Hindu doctors working in different hospitals of Ahmedabad and neighbouring districts.
"We are verifying whether these doctors are abiding by the residential permit regulation norms," said a source from the special branch.
"According to present norms, a person on long-term visa (LTV), with a working permit, should not cross the geographical limit mentioned in the permit," added the source.
Police said that while probing the ICU-rape case, they found that the accused, Pak Hindu immigrant Dr Rajesh Chauhan, was working in Apollo Hospital in Gandhinagar district, though his residential permit mentioned that he can work in Ahmedabad only.
"As soon as we get the police report on the alleged rape case, we are going to write to the Union home ministry to inform them about the Pakistani Hindu doctor arrested in an alleged rape case. The Union home ministry will then decide on his fate," said an officer of the special branch.
It is worthy to mention that eight Pak Hindu doctors working with Apollo Hospital at Bhat had to put in their papers, after they were found to be violating the residential permit regulations.
Doctors who fled hostile environment in Pakistan said Pak Hindu doctors are being penalized for a crime allegedly committed by one 'rotten apple' think many.
"If the charge is proved, the doctor accused of rape in ICU should be given strict punishment," said Dr Rajesh Jesrani, a Pakistani Hindu doctor, who has stopped practice after his children started earning.
"Pakistani Hindu doctors working here are being punished, and losing their jobs and means of livelihood, for allegations against one, and even before the crime is proved. Most of them are paid half of what is paid to local doctors, but even that is being taken away," said Dr Jesrani.
"Instead of letting their exploitation continue, the government should enable the doctors to get work. There are around 150 doctors who migrated from Pakistan and work in Ahmedabad," said Rambhai Bhimani of Thari Lohana Samaj.