Kashmiri doctors threaten mass suicide on Repulic Day

Srinagar, Jan 17 (UNI) An association of contractual doctors has threatened of ''mass suicide'' here on January 26 if the Jammu and Kashmir government do not address their problems by then.

The doctors affiliated to the association of the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) threatened that they would take recourse to the ''extreme step of mass suicide'' on January 26, if the government failed to safeguard their future and address their problems by then.

In a meeting here, the association discussed threadbare the future of contractual doctors working in far-flung and inaccessible areas of the state for the past five years.

''Our doctors have served in far-flung areas and done commendable job in relief operations in snow-storm affected Waltengu Nar and earthquake-hit areas of Uri and Tangdhar besides serving regularly during the Amarnath pilgrimage despite a meager salary of Rs 8000 per month. The doctors were taken hostages and some suffered serious injuries on duty,'' the Association said in a statement here.

It said the situation was now turning grievous as most of the doctors had either crossed or on the verge of crossing the age limit while the state government remained a silent spectator.

''We have decided to go on mass suicide on January 26 if our grievances are not addressed soon. The authorities will be responsible for the consequences,'' the association threatened.

UNI