Anguished Poonch Demands ‘Justice For Asia’; Post-Mortem Denied, Family Smells Cover-Up, Seeks FIR

Outrage Mounts as Grieving Husband Details Hours of Alleged Neglect, Absent Gynaecologist, and Desperate Pleas Ignored; ‘Beti Bachao’ Betrayal Cries Louder Than Ever

• The tragic death of 26-year-old Asia Kousar at District Hospital Poonch after childbirth has ignited fierce public anger, with her family alleging gross medical negligence by Gynaecologist Dr. Shehnaz Bhatti and the hospital, and demanding an immediate FIR against her and the CMO; they accuse staff of delaying critical intervention for hours and then, suspiciously, refusing a post-mortem and rushing to dispose-off the body.
• In a shocking sequence, after Asia Kousar allegedly succumbed to post-partum haemorrhage at DH Poonch around 7:45 PM on June 2nd, her body was reportedly first shifted to Sub-District Hospital Surankote where doctors confirmed her death, yet DH Poonch authorities then allegedly attempted to refer the body to GMC Rajouri and subsequently instructed the ambulance driver to take it directly to her residence – actions the family sees as a clear attempt to obstruct justice and avoid scrutiny.
• District Magistrate Poonch Vikas Kundal (IAS) has ordered a time-bound magisterial inquiry (Order dated June 5, 2025) by a committee including Programme Officer (Poshan) ICDS Poonch (Chairman), CMO Poonch, Tehsildar Haveli, and Dr. Farhana Kouser (MO, DH Poonch), to submit a report within 10 days; however, the Poonch public, seething with anger, demands immediate FIR and arrests, warning the situation could escalate if justice is denied.

Harpreet Singh

Poonch, June 09, 2025: A wave of profound grief and simmering fury has enveloped Poonch district following the tragic death of 26-year-old Asia Kousar at District Hospital (DH) Poonch after childbirth, a death her family attributes to egregious medical negligence and a subsequent, chilling attempt by hospital authorities to allegedly cover up their culpability. The family’s harrowing account of ignored pleas, an absent specialist during critical hours, and a shocking, almost clandestine, rush to dispose-off Asia’s body without a post-mortem, has painted a damning picture of systemic failure and a callous disregard for human life that has left the community demanding immediate criminal action against the accused medical professionals, including Gynaecologist Dr. Shehnaz Bhatti and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). While the District Magistrate has ordered an inquiry, the public’s patience is wearing thin, with urgent calls for an FIR and arrests to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.

Mohd Farooq, Asia Kousar’s devastated husband, has formally lodged a detailed complaint through legal counsel with the Station House Officer, City Police Station Poonch. The complaint meticulously outlines a sequence of events on June 2, 2025, that began with Asia’s admission for what was expected to be a routine delivery. She delivered her child around 1:45 PM but soon began to exhibit alarming signs of severe post-partum haemorrhage. The family alleges that despite her visibly deteriorating condition, no senior medical personnel, particularly the on-duty Gynaecologist Dr. Shehnaz Bhatti, attended to her for several critical, agonizing hours. Dr. Bhatti reportedly only arrived around 6:00 PM, by which time Asia’s condition was allegedly beyond repair. Although she was shifted to the operation theatre by 6:30 PM, the complaint states she tragically succumbed to excessive internal bleeding by approximately 7:45 PM.

What followed Asia’s death, according to the bereaved family, was a sequence of actions by DH Poonch authorities that reek of a desperate attempt to evade responsibility and obstruct any potential investigation. Compounding their anguish was the alleged outright refusal by the hospital to conduct a post-mortem examination, despite repeated and desperate pleas from the family. They firmly believe this was a calculated move to eliminate crucial forensic evidence that could establish medical culpability.

The family’s accusations of a cover-up are further fuelled by the inexplicable and hurried manner in which Asia’s body was handled. It is alleged that her body was first shifted from DH Poonch to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Surankote. After doctors at SDH Surankote confirmed that Asia had indeed passed away (likely in transit or even before leaving DH Poonch), the authorities at DH Poonch then shockingly attempted to refer her body to Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri. When this move was vehemently opposed by the grieving family, who suspected it was a ploy to divert attention and complicate matters, the ambulance driver was then reportedly instructed to take Asia Kousar’s body directly to her residence. These actions; the denial of a post-mortem and the frantic, multi-stage shifting of the deceased; strongly suggest, in the family’s view, ulterior motives aimed at preventing proper scrutiny and accountability.

This heart-wrenching incident, which starkly contravenes the spirit of initiatives like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” is not an isolated case for DH Poonch, a facility that has gained notoriety for previous instances of alleged medical negligence leading to maternal and neonatal deaths. The public perception is that the hospital operates with a culture of impunity, where human life is treated with shocking casualness.

Responding to the intensifying public outcry and the gravity of the allegations, District Magistrate Poonch, Vikas Kundal (IAS), issued an order on June 5, 2025, constituting a special Inquiry Committee to investigate the circumstances leading to Asia Kousar’s death. The committee, chaired by the Programme Officer (Poshan), ICDS Poonch, includes the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Poonch, Tehsildar Haveli, and Dr. Farhana Kouser (Medical Officer, DH Poonch). It has been directed to submit a detailed report with specific recommendations within ten days, ensuring principles of natural justice are followed. The order unequivocally states, “It is considered necessary to conduct an enquiry to ascertain the facts and take appropriate action based on findings.”

However, for a community raw with grief and anger, a departmental or magisterial inquiry alone is insufficient. The demand for immediate registration of an FIR against Dr. Shehnaz Bhatti, the CMO, and other responsible staff is growing louder. Poonch residents are questioning why, in the face of such serious allegations and suspicious conduct post-death, the police have not yet initiated criminal proceedings. There are palpable fears that without swift and decisive legal action, including arrests, the situation could escalate, as public trust in the healthcare system and administrative justice reaches a breaking point. The state administration and the concerned Health Minister are being urged to take immediate, high-level notice, go beyond a mere hospital-level investigation which many perceive as an “eyewash,” and ensure that those responsible for Asia Kousar’s tragic end, and the subsequent attempts to allegedly conceal the facts, are brought to book without delay. The hashtag #JusticeForAsia continues to trend, a digital cry for justice that echoes the anguish on the streets of Poonch.