HYDERABAD: In a shocking incident that authorities managed to keep under wraps for over four days, four inmates of the criminal ward at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, here were injured in an alleged clash between inmates of the ward and police personnel deployed at the IMH. SR Nagar Police, however, denied that any such incident happened. The four inmates, who suffered injuries, were rushed to Osmania General Hospital (OGH) on the same night last week but the incident came to light only on Tuesday. Some other inmates of the ward suffered minor bruises in the clash.
According to sources, tram track contusions (bruises in the shape of tram track) were found on the back and forearms of the hospital’s inmates. Such injuries are usually received when one is thrashed by a ‘lathi’. However, all the injured inmates are said to be stable now.Contradicting claims were made by the hospital and police when contacted by Express. While IMH authorities confirmed that there was a clash between police personnel and criminal ward inmates on Thursday night, police officials denied the occurrence of any such incident. No police complaint has been lodged in this regard. When contacted, inspector of SR Nagar Police Station, Mohd Waheeduddin, said there was no such clash at the IMH.
According to sources inmates of criminal ward did not take food for a day, protesting against the alleged attack by policemen. It is learnt that after the incident, a new contingent of police personnel was deployed there.The criminal ward and court ward in the IMH are enclosed by over 20-feet compound walls. Both wards are secluded from other wards in the hospital. Usually, a total of eight police personnel is deployed there.
“Four inmates who received injuries were rushed to OGH just to ensure they are safe. One of them was suspected to have suffered shoulder dislocation but it was not the case. Another suffered a forearm injury and third from ankle swelling. All of them were sent back stating medical intervention is not required”, said a source.
When contacted, superintendent of IMH, Dr M Umashankar said that the four patients are safe. “Steps are being taken to avoid such incidents in future. Ward boys will be on duty at the wards round-the-clock. Duty Medical Officer (DMO) should go on rounds in the night and inform superintendent or RMO if there is any problem,” he added.