Baramulla: A man posing as a doctor was held by the locals near Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla on Tuesday, and later handed over to the police.
The imposter, who claimed to be a doctor from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, was caught while attempting to deceive people and chemists.
According to eyewitnesses, the “fake doctor” first approached a chemist’s shop in Baramulla’s main town, near the old district hospital. Introducing himself as a “cardiologist from AIIMS”, he allegedly demanded money from the chemist, saying he needed it to refuel his car. In return, he promised his services as a cardiologist at the chemist’s shop. However, the chemist got suspicious and refused to give him any money.
Undeterred by this, the imposter then visited the shopping complex outside GMC Baramulla, seeking space to set up a clinic for private practice clinic “as a cardiologist”. However, here again his suspicious behavior alarmed the locals chemists, who alerted a local journalist.
Upon further inquiry, it was revealed that the man was carrying a fake identity card bearing the name Dr. Abdul Razak Khan, son of Ali Mohammad Khan, with residential address listed as Tankipora, near the DC Office in Srinagar.
The card falsely claimed that he was associated with the Department of Medicine HIV/AIDS at AIIMS, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, and included contact numbers 8803974155 and 9419430326. However, the card and its details were found to be fabricated.
“The locals confronted him and asked for his qualifications and credentials, which he failed to provide. Realizing he was a fraud, they immediately grabbed him and informed me,” journalist Umar Rashid said, adding that later on the imposter was handed over to the police.
In police custody, the preliminary findings suggest that the imposter hails from Rajouri and had been using the fake identity card to deceive people. Sources said his has studied only up to Class 12th.
“Such individuals play with the lives of innocent people, and strict action will be taken against them,” a police official stated.
