When hospital gates turn hostile

Hospitals were meant to be the places of healing, compassion and care. They were supposed to embody patience, and support for those who walk through their gates—whether in physical agony, distressed or emotional turmoil.

But in Kashmir, an alarming pattern has begun to take root; patients and their attendants are increasingly being subjected to rough and hostile treatment at the hands of hospital security guards. What was once a sporadic complaint is now a growing concern. And the most recent, disturbing episode at SKIMS JVC Bemina has put a glaring spotlight on the issue.

The very sanctity of healthcare spaces is being eroded by unchecked aggression in the name of “security.”

A video reportedly showing an attendant bleeding from the face after an altercation with hospital security guards went viral on social media platforms. As per the eyewitnesses the attendant was assaulted following a verbal exchange, with blood on his face. The visuals sparked public outrage. Reportedly an FIR too has been registered in the case, and at least one security guard was initially arrested.

But this isn’t the first such incident at JVC, and sadly, it may not be the last unless urgent corrective measures are taken.

One must ask, has JVC Hospital appointed trained security guards—or nightclub bouncers? Increasingly, stories are surfacing of patients and their attendants being mishandled, pushed around, threatened, and even humiliated by individuals masquerading as security personnel. Is this what hospital security looks like? Or has a vital institution like JVC, one of the Valley’s key tertiary care centers, become a space where the sick must also worry about being roughed up at the entrance?

A pattern of aggression

Who are these guards posted at hospital gates? Are they trained professionals tasked with protecting staff and patients—or have they simply become enforcers of misplaced authority? Increasingly, their role appears to be less about maintaining order and more about asserting power over already distressed civilians.

Security personnel at hospitals are often the first point of contact. They’re supposed to manage inflow, provide direction, and offer support in emergencies. Do they understand even the basics of dealing with distressed families, emotional attendants, or agitated patients? Or is their first—and only—response to resort to muscle and intimidation?

But in many cases across Kashmir, they are seen engaging in confrontations, pushing attendants, threatening people, and in extreme cases—physically assaulting them.

Hospital environments are by nature stressful. Attendants often wait for hours, sometimes without food, answers, or updates. They are emotionally raw. Patients may be in pain or fear. And instead of empathy, they are increasingly being greeted with hostility at the very gates of care.

Where is the oversight?

The growing frequency of such incidents—especially at a major tertiary care hospital like SKIMS JVC Bemina—raises serious questions about hospital governance. Who monitors the conduct of these security guards? Are they given proper training in public dealing, crowd control, or even basic empathy?

It is quite unacceptable that people who arrive at hospitals and are already burdened with pain, and anxiety must also worry about being humiliated or hurt at the gate. This pattern poses a threat to the emotional and physical well-being of those seeking care.

Are complaints being logged and investigated? Or are they being brushed aside, in quiet complicity? If the administration cannot ensure basic dignity and safety to its visitors, then it is complicit in normalising such hooliganism.

Hospitals should understand that security is not about control, it’s about protection. It’s about diffusing tension—not escalating it. Security personnel in medical facilities should be trained in crowd management, de-escalation tactics, and above all, basic human empathy.

A breaking point

Hospitals cannot be allowed to become zones of intimidation. The state health department must step in. There must be clear accountability for security personnel. Hiring protocols need to be revisited, complaint systems must be made robust and accessible, and guards should undergo mandatory training in conflict resolution and communication.

The recent incident at SKIMS JVC Bemina should serve as a wake-up call. If public healthcare institutions continue to tolerate or ignore such behaviour, they risk alienating the very people they exist to serve.

Because when the gate to a hospital becomes the site of violence—something is deeply, dangerously wrong.

Jahangir Sofi is Sub-Editor at

Greater Kashmir