Kolkata hospital denies treatment to Bangladeshi patients after insult to Indian flag

A hospital in north Kolkata's Manicktala area said it would not treat patients from Bangladesh amid protests over the alleged atrocities on minority Hindus in the neighboring country and incidents where the Indian flag was reportedly disrespected.

An official of the JN Ray Hospital on Nov 29 said the decision was forced by insults meted out to the Indian flag by Bangladeshi nationals.

"We have issued a notification that from today till an indefinite time we will not admit any Bangladeshi patient for treatment. This is primarily because of the insults they have shown towards India," hospital official Subhranshu Bhakt was quoted as saying.

He urged other hospitals in the city to do the same as a mark of protest against the alleged atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh.

"Seeing the tricolor being insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence but despite that, we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar steps," he added.

In the latest spate of attacks, three Hindu temples were vandalized by a mob on Nov 29 in Chattogram. The attack took place around 2:30 pm in the port city's Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, where Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple were targeted, a Bangladeshi news portal reported.

Pertinently, several civil rights bodies and Hindu organizations on Nov 26 protested in front of the Assistant High Commission office in Agartala demanding the unconditional release of Das and an end to atrocities on Hindus.