Dr Sheikh Jalal to be flown to AIIMS today

Dr. Sheikh Jalal

Srinagar : Not accepting the police claims that Dr Sheikh Jalal Ud Din was not the target of ‘militants’, the family of  Dr. Sheikh Jalal is still apprehensive of possible attack on the ailing doctor. The family according to sources has decided to take him out of state for further treatment apparently because of ‘security reasons’.

Meanwhile, an air ambulance has been arranged to carry Dr Sheikh Jalal for specialized treatment at AIIMS Delhi today.

Comparatively stable after being operated second time on Friday, doctors are hopeful of his survival.

The doctors treating Dr Sheikh  Jalal said he is responding to medication and is stable.
“Dr Sheikh Jalal is stable but his family wants to take him outside for security reasons,” said a doctor wishing not to be named.

“They fear for another possible attack on the doctor,” he added. Dr Sheikh Jalal, a renowned cardiologist and former director of SKIMS was shot along with his two personal security guards by some unidentified person at his ancestral home in Namlabal Pampore. Police claims attack was carried out by militants. The two guards later succumbed to their injuries leaving Dr Sheikh Jalal critically wounded. He was rushed to SKIMS where he is being treated presently.

Immediately after the incident, a team of experts at SKIMS operated upon his brain and abdomen, but he is said to have lost his left eye as bullet has pierced the eye. According to doctors they are not sure whether he would be able to see with his right eye.

The preliminary report of police investigation hinted that Dr Sheikh Jalal was not the target of the militant attack, but it was aimed at his security guards. The two policemen were killed in the attack and the rifle of one of them was snatched.

“It seems that Dr Sheikh Jalal became collateral damage,” said a police officer. “We are investigating whether it was a chance encounter or not,” he added.