'Hathras rape victim was referred to AIIMS, not Safdarjung hospital'

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College principal said that he had no idea why she was admitted to the Safdarjung hospital in Delhi when they had referred her to the AIIMS. He also said that he cannot reveal about the injuries suffered by the victim as it is only informed to the investigation officer.

Aligarh: The principal of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) hospital, where the Hathras gangrape victim was under treatment for more than two weeks, on Thursday said he had no idea why she was admitted to the Safdarjung hospital in Delhi when they had referred her to the AIIMS.

"We are not in a position to explain as to why the patient was taken to the Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi when we had referred her to the AIIMS," Professor Shahid Ali Siddiqui said."On the night of September 28, the victim's family sought permission to shift her and we willingly referred her to the AIIMS," he added.

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The next morning, the patient, along with her family members, left for Delhi. Asked about the issue on Wednesday, JNMC authorities told reporters, "The Hathras district administration will be able to respond to this query, we had no role in this."Siddiqui said, "Normally, the decision to shift a patient for better medical facilities is taken by doctors in consultation with the patient's family, but if the family members wish to go by their decision, they can do so and we always cooperate."

Asked about certain conflicting media reports regarding the injuries suffered by the victim, he said there is no scope for speculation as "we are only authorised to submit the report to the investigating officer or the court".Meanwhile, opposition parties and organisations have severely criticised the decision of the Hathras authorities on performing the last rites of the victim allegedly without the consent of the family.

The 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras on September 14 and referred to the Safdarjung hospital in Delhi on Monday with spinal cord injuries, paralysis and cuts in her tongue. She died at around 3 am on Tuesday.

PTI