Seven cops held after woman killed in Gilgit hospital encounter

GILGIT: Seven police personnel were arrested on Thursday after a woman was killed during an encounter between a police Special Investigation Team (SIT) and an alleged drug dealer at Shaheed Saif-ur-Rehman Government Teaching Hospital (SSGTH) in Gilgit on Wednesday night.

According to an incident report shared by SSGTH Medical Superintendent Dr. Afzal Siraj Chaudhry with HUM News English, the incident occurred at approximately 11:48 PM on Wednesday within the premises of the Mother and Child Health Complex of SSGTH when police team, in pursuit of an alleged drug dealer, “forcibly entered the hospital premises”.

The suspect fled into the emergency outpatient department (OPD) area, and during the chaotic scene, “a female attendant, recently postpartum and unarmed, was fatally shot in the head by police personnel.”

The victim, identified as Qamar Jan, wife of Sajjad and a resident of Mohallah Kashrote, had arrived two days earlier for a routine postnatal check-up of her newborn child. She was standing outside the Emergency OPD when the police action took place. Despite immediate attempts to save her life, she succumbed to her injuries after being transferred to the operation theatre for resuscitation. Her body was later shifted to the hospital mortuary for a postmortem.

As news of the incident spread, a large crowd gathered outside the hospital, protesting against the police’s use of force and demanding justice.

The medical superintendent, present during routine night rounds, engaged with the situation to calm the protesters and contacted law enforcement authorities. Shortly afterward, the Deputy Commissioner of Gilgit arrived at the scene to investigate and coordinate with hospital staff.

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In response to the incident, the medical superintendent, in his official report, recommended that strict legal action be taken against the police officers involved in the fatal shooting. He also called for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and emphasized the need for enhanced security measures at the hospital to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future. He proposed the deployment of a sufficient number of trained security personnel to ensure the safety of patients, doctors, and staff.

The hospital administration, in a separate complaint, expressed grave concern about the unlawful entry of police and the indiscriminate firing in a sensitive healthcare setting. The complaint noted that no prior notice or legal authorization had been given for such an operation inside the hospital. It demanded the immediate dismissal of the responsible officers and the deployment of Rangers or GB Scouts to secure the hospital.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan took notice of the incident and ordered the Interior Secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to submit a report within 24 hours. He directed strict action against the culprits and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.

A Gilgit Police spokesperson confirmed that an FIR had been registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and that the personnel involved had been taken into custody. A Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising senior police officials and representatives from other law enforcement agencies, is being formed to ensure a transparent probe.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Mirza Hassan also confirmed to HUM News English that ATA charges had been filed and the accused arrested. A JIT will ascertain the facts of the case.

Meanwhile, police sources revealed that seven police personnel, including five members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) who conducted the raid, as well as two Sargan police members, have been arrested. The sources also claimed that the alleged drug dealer, who was injured during the encounter, is currently under police custody and receiving treatment at the provincial headquarters hospital (PHQ) Gilgit.

The suspect, according to sources, has been involved in various criminal activities and has secured bail before arrest (BBA) in three cases. He is also wanted in numerous other cases. The sources suggested that “powerful” individuals are backing the suspect.