Abdul Karim Dar's family alleges he died when his ambulance was delayed by a J&K court official
The family of an 80-year-old man in Jammu and Kashmir has alleged that he died after the ambulance that was taking him to hospital was stopped by an official, alleged for the continuous use of its siren.
Abdul Rahim Dar, a heart patient, was reportedly being taken to a Srinagar hospital on Wednesday when the ambulance was allegedly stopped by a mobile magistrate, or a roving court official, near Sopore 55 km away.
Mr Dar's family alleges that traffic policemen who were also at the spot broke the siren of the vehicle and refused to let it go.
"I told them there was a patient in the ambulance, but they did not listen, they stopped us for 15 minutes and we couldn't reach Srinagar on time," said Mr Dar's daughter, Hamida Banu.
An angry Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Can't believe the sheer bloody mindlessness of that action...Will ask my IG (Inspector General) in Kashmir to collect the facts in this matter and take action immediately to punish any guilty personnel. Unacceptable."
Mr Dar was reportedly declared dead on arriving at the hospital. His family says he could have been saved if he had reached on time. He had reportedly been referred to a super-speciality hospital for his serious heart condition.
The police say they have a different version. Police sources claim there were three people in the vehicle, none of them the patient.