Minister for Municipal Administration and Waqf Qamarul Islam visited the Yashoda Super Specialty Hospital in Hyderabad to enquire about the condition of police sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande, who was shot in the head during a shootout in Gulbarga on Wednesday. Mr. Islam told The Hindu over phone that he had also called on Mallamma, wife of Mr. Bande, who is camping in Hyderabad along with other relatives, and assured them that the State government was with the family and was ready to airlift him to a hospital in any part of the world, if needed.
He said Ms. Mallamma wanted the government to airlift her husband to the hospital in London that treated iconic Pakistan schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who received a similar injury, when the Taliban shot her in the head. “I have assured her that the State government will leave no stone unturned for his treatment,” the Minister said.
Mr. Islam said everything depended on the advice of the doctors attending on him and his health parameters.
Mr. Islam said he had informed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K.J. George of Mr. Bande’s condition and the demand of his family.
Meanwhile, the condition of Mr. Bande remains serious; he is still on ventilator support. However, his vital organs are functioning normally and a slight movement was noticed. Mr. Islam later visited the Global Hospital in Hyderabad and called on assistant sub-inspector Udandappa, who is also recovering from bullet injuries in the stomach. Referring to the incident, Mr. Islam commended the efforts of the Gulbarga police and the bravery of Mr. Bande and his team in gunning down the notorious contract killer Munna Darbadar. He said the entire State was proud of them. This action should be a lesson to all the anti-social elements that the government will not tolerate unlawful activities, he said.