Noted orthopaedic doctor, colleague attacked

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, May 31

Three armed persons intercepted and attacked a local orthopaedic doctor, Dr Guriqbal Singh Chhina, when he was returning home after attending a patient at a private hospital in the Ranjit Avenue area here late last evening.

Though police officials denied it, the incident could be an attempt to kidnap doctor Chhinna, who is a noted orthopaedic surgeon. He was accompanied by his colleague, Dr Jorawar Singh. Interestingly, the incident occurred just outside the office of the Inspector General of Police (Border range).

The heavily armed youths, who were going in a Toyta Innova vehicle, intercepted their car near the Red Cross turn.

Three armed youths came out of the Innova and tried to open the door of their car. When they failed to do so, they hit the window glass with sharp weapons in order to intimidate the doctors.

However, the alert Dr Chhinna and Dr Jorawar Singh immediately reversed the vehicle and entered the Green Avenue area to escape. Dr Chhina said the attackers were in the age group of early twenties and they were heavily armed.

“We cannot presume whether it was a kidnapping or a robbery attempt, but it was clear the attackers had ‘serious’ intentions,” he added.

Finding that no one was chasing them, they then drove to the Ranjit Avenue police chowki and lodged a complaint with the police. The Civil Lines police have registered a case under Sections 341 (wrongful restraining), 427 and 506 of the IPC against unknown persons. The Ranjit Avenue police chowki in charge said the matter was being verified. The police authorities said they were scrutinising the CCTV footage of the area.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (investigation) Jagmohan Singh denied that it was a kidnapping attempt.

The incident has created panic among the doctors’ fraternity, considering the recent incident in which three armed gangsters had abducted an Ajnala-based doctor, Dr Munish Sharma, from near the Rajasansi area when he was returning home.

He was released only after the family paid a ransom of Rs 7.50 lakh. Though the police claimed to have launched a manhunt against gangsters identified as Gopi Ghanshampuria and Harry Chatha, they were still out of reach of the police.