‘Doctor’s Coat Lies Stained With Blood of Red Fort Blast Victims’
Dr. SP Singh, a medical practitioner from Sultanpur in UP, says the involvement of doctors in the Red Fort blast case has harmed the image of medical fraternity. His views:
Let me start with the basic premise that has been ad nauseam ‘recited’ and repeated as the main cause of involvement in terror activities: only the illiterate, uneducated and underprivileged support and follow radical activities to ‘serve’ religious beliefs. The recent Red Fort blast has exploded that myth! Is there any fresh alibi or justification left to protect those involved in such activities despite having high education and earning?
More horrifying than the explosives found from the houses of some doctors is the fact that one of the doctors involved in the conspiracy was extracting ricin from castor seed to carry out what could have been one of the biggest mass poisoning in the world. Ricin is one of the most toxic substances known to the scientific research and works by preventing the body’s cells from making essential proteins, leading to cell death and organ failure. And we were taught that doctors are the live saviours!
From what I have seen or read in the news is that a larger conspiracy has been unearthed and there are over 200 such professionals who are either on the radar of the security agencies or being interrogated to know about their actual intent. The world medical fraternity has never in its existence faced such a stain on the white coat.
One thing is certain: the on-going revelations by our security forces cannot be termed as isolated incidents as new theories are being exposed on a daily basis from all parts of the country. These shocking cases, particularly involving highly educated professionals, have generated significant media attention and commentary. This will naturally lead to negative generalizations and prejudices over the credibility of a wider Muslim medical community.
Imagine the feelings or the mind-set of a person who has, on the other day, visited one of the arrested doctors for some consultation and the next day, he or she sees him on the TV for reasons that no one in India would like to associate with! There are reports in the media that the Al Falah university, where these doctors taught and practised, now lies vacant and all the patients, along with those serving them (doctors), have vanished in thin air!
I might as well conclude by saying that in the past, you could have easily profiled potential extremists or terrorists based on their so-called social marginalisation or economic disadvantage. That model is a thing of the past now and radicalised youth may be top of their class, financially independent, and socially integrated—yet ideologically committed to violence. The faces of terror have often been disturbingly sophisticated—and now, educated, articulate, and strategically aware have joined the brigade.
We, as responsible persons of the society, need to be more cautious and need to keep a constant vigil on our surroundings to, at least, pass on any such suspicious information to those serving the security and integrity of our country.
As told to Rajat Rai
