Why ADGP Alexander Jacob accompanied Soofiya?
24/12/2009 02:04:58  


Mystery shrouds shifting of Soofiya to hospital
www.expressbuzz.com



KOCHI/ALAPPUZHA: Mystery shrouds the circumstances that led to the shifting of Soofiya Madhani, the 10th accused in the Kalamassery bus burning case, from the Ernakulam Sub-Jail to Alappuzha Medical College. The hospital authorities (at the time of reporting) were yet to conduct a test to ascertain the reason for her back pain and to start any specific course of treatment.

Soofiya was shifted from the jail to the AMC after she complained of severe back pain. Allegations have surfaced from various quarters on the role played by ADGP (Prisons) Alexander Jacob in taking the initiative to shift her.

Highly placed AMC sources said that though the doctors prescribed an MRI scan to find out the reason for the back ache, “nothing has been done by the authorities so far”.

“The X-ray, scanning and other tests revealed that her condition is stable and normal.

Nor have the doctors of the Gynaecology Department found anything abnormal,” the sources said and alleged that there was a “conspiracy by the jail authorities not to conduct the MRI scan”.

“The jail authorities told us that they could not make any payment for scans done on prisoners.

So we asked Soofiya’s relatives to have the MRI scan done. But none of them showed any interest. We cannot discharge her until the scan report is received,” they said.

“It is mandatory to pay money in advance to conduct the scan as per an agreement between the State Government and Hindustan Latex Ltd, which runs the MRI scan centre,” they added.

Meanwhile, sub-jail officials said there was no official communication from any quarter till 7 p.m. on December 20 on shifting Soofiya to the AMC after she complained of severe back pain.

“The jail superintendent who left the jail around 7 p.m.

had to rush back after being informed about the ADGP’s sudden visit to the jail. It was the ADGP who decided to shift Soofiya in an available vehicle without waiting for an ambulance and an escort doctor,” claimed jail officials.

Sources said the ADGP decided to shift her in a police vehicle, considering it an emergency.

Interestingly, the ADGP himself accompanied Soofiya till Alappuzha.

However, according to jail officials, “the ADGP happened to be on his way to Thiruvananthapuram from Thrissur when he was alerted about Soofiya’s condition. This might have prompted him to immediately rush to the jail and make arrangements to shift her.”