Doctors at the SMHS hospital in Srinagar staged a token protest on May 26 against the alleged police high handedness with their colleagues.

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Several incidents of police harassment of doctors by way of stopping them from performing their professional duties have been reported over the last one week. On May 23, a Srinagar based cardiologist Dr Maqbool had complained that the police stopped him from reaching a hospital to attend an emergency case. He alleged that the police roughed him up and detained him.

"Entire world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, doctors are dealing with the situation with their lives, the doctors can't stay in their homes, they have to attend their patients, but the police does not understand all this," he said. "I appeal to the administration and the police to allow us free movement," he added.

On May 26, the video of a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in Bandipore went viral in which he is accusing policemen of stopping his car and preventing him for discharging his professional duties. Meanwhile, IG Kashmir police told IANS that police officials have been asked to ensure smooth movement of the COVID warriors especially doctors and paramedics. He said the police officials will hold meetings with the CMOs and request them to brief the doctors and paramedics to cooperate with the police.