Agencies | Anantnag:
Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against the wife and son of Anantnag MLA Peerzada Mohammad Syed for allegedly locking a government-run health facility in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Wednesday.
According to officials, an FIR was lodged at Achabal Police Station on Tuesday after the two allegedly locked the primary health centre located in the Damhal Khosipora area, disrupting medical services in the region.
The health facility has been functioning from a building reportedly owned by the MLA’s family, which was made available to the government in 2008 to establish the centre. Over the years, the facility has catered to basic healthcare needs of the local population, particularly in a rural belt where access to medical services remains limited.
However, the MLA’s family has claimed that concerns over the structural condition of the building prompted the move. Sources said that earlier this year, Peerzada Mohammad Syed had written to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag, requesting relocation of the health centre, citing that the structure had become dilapidated and unsafe.
Despite these concerns, the alleged locking of the facility has raised serious questions about disruption of essential public services. Healthcare centres in rural areas like Damhal Khosipora play a critical role in providing primary care, maternal health services, immunisation, and emergency response, making their uninterrupted functioning vital.
Police have initiated an investigation into the matter, and further legal proceedings are underway. Authorities are also expected to assess both the legal aspects of the property dispute and the immediate need to restore healthcare services for the affected population.
The incident has sparked debate over the management of public infrastructure operating from privately owned premises and the need for clear protocols to prevent disruption of essential services.
