Hemkunt Foundation COVID Centre Vandalism Case: Here's What We Know So Far

A Covid relief camp set up by the Hemkunt Foundation in Gurgaon's Sector 61 was vandalised by a group of men on Thursday morning. Volunteers at the camp alleged that 10-20 men with sticks broke in and damaged furniture, beds and tents. No patients were admitted to the centre at the time.

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What happened so far

Let's take a look at what we know so far about the case.

• Following the vandalism, Harteerath Singh, community development director at the Hemkunt Foundation, appealed to netizens for help, explaining that in order to continue helping Covid-19 patients in dire need of oxygen, the organisation needs urgent access to 20,000 square feet of land at or near the City Centre of Gurugram.
• Hemkunt Foundation, in its posts on social media, also attached photos that show that the oxygen relief centre in Gurugram was allegedly vandalised and ransacked by the unidentified "goons". However, the motive behind such an action has not yet been known.??
  

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• Singh said the foundation has lodged a complaint in the matter. Police said they arrived at the centre, along with the local administration, in 10-20 minutes.
• Gurgaon Police later said an FIR has been registered under sections of criminal intimidation, mischief causing damage and voluntarily causing hurt.
• The incident took place around 8 am, when about 8-10 volunteers were at the camp. Seeing the men, they rushed to the security guard who took them outside.

Death threats to Singh

Singh told The Indian Express: “I have been receiving death threats for days and have complained to the police. The goons entered and started destroying everything. Thankfully, our volunteers rushed to a secure place and saved themselves….”

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Singh said, “Our banners, tents, beds and other equipment have been damaged… We used the centre for patients and also for refilling oxygen cylinders. We have around 100 cylinders or more. We want to continue serving people and need access to land in Gurgaon for the same.”

NGO came to aid of several people?

The Hemkunt Foundation, the NGO working on emergency humanitarian aid, had started its oxygen relief seva amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis in India. The organisation came to the aid of several Covid-19 patients who were faced their plight particularly during the lethal, more infectious second wave of the pandemic in and around the national capital.