SURKHET, July 18: A coronavirus-infected man who was beaten severely by a police officer in Surkhet has been taken to a hospital five days after the incident, and his medical reports show that the patient has severe injuries in his right hand and has to undergo a surgery.
Last Monday, the 39-year-old patient was severely beaten by Bijay Pun, assistant sub inspector of Nepal Police, while the man was being shifted from a quarantine facility to an isolation ward after his COVID-19 test results came positive.
Although the patient was severely injured, he was taken to the Karnali Provincial Hospital only on Friday.
"The patient has sustained severe injuries in his right hand. His right hand bone has fractures," Dumbar Khadka, medical superintendent at the hospital, told Republica.
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The patient has been referred to Nepalgunj for further treatment, according to Khadka.
According to the victim, he was beaten by the police officer for no reason.
After Republica daily published several news reports about the incident, the victim was taken to the hospital after five days.
It has been learnt that Binda Kumar KC, chairperson of the rural municipality, and police officers were working in cahoots to suppress the incident. Although the victim was severely injured, he was forcefully kept at an isolation facility in Bageshwori School without any treatment.
The victim was taken to the hospital after several organizations and rights activists pressurized police officials to treat the patient.
According to Superintendent of Police, Rajendra Bhatta, the injured patient has been taken to the hospital for treatment. "Initially, we [district police] got wrong information from the Area Police Office in Badepipal. Later we knew about the incident, and took the victim to a hospital," said Bhatta, who is the chief of district police, adding that the police officer, who has been alleged of beating the Covid-19 patient, is being investigated.
The Surkhet Police have already formed a five-member committee led by a police inspector to probe the incident.
"The district police will also take action against sub Inspector Nara Bahadur Chhetri, who gave wrong information. It is an inhumane act that a coronavirus patient was severely beaten at a quarantine facility," said Bhatta.
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