Guwahati: Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district staged a protest on Saturday, August 29, wearing black badges to condemn the alleged assault on a medical team at Chawangkining village on August 27. They also demanded stronger security for healthcare personnel working in conflict-sensitive areas.
The protest was organised two days after a medical team travelling from Kangpokpi to Primary Health Centre (PHC) T. Waichong under security escort was allegedly intercepted and attacked by a mob at Chawangkining.
According to the Health Department, three medical personnel, including a doctor, were injured in the incident. Three ambulances were also allegedly vandalised, while medicines worth lakhs of rupees were reportedly destroyed.
During the protest outside the District Hospital, healthcare workers held placards carrying messages such as “Protect Medics, Protect Humanity”, “Save Doctors to Save Patients” and “Doctors Deserve Dignity, Not Violence”.
Addressing the media, Dr Len Kamkhosat Khongsai, Senior Specialist, Public Health and representative of the Kangpokpi Health Department, said the medical team was travelling to provide healthcare services when it was allegedly stopped by a mob.
Khongsai alleged that the attackers removed medicines from one of the ambulances and burnt them before assaulting doctors and other medical personnel inside the vehicles.
He further alleged that the mob attempted to pull medical staff out of the ambulances and attacked them with stones, boulders and sticks. The windshields and other glass panes of all three ambulances were allegedly smashed.
Khongsai also claimed that security personnel present at the spot did not intervene effectively to disperse the mob. He said the medical team eventually depended on the ambulance drivers to safely move away from the area.
According to the Health Department representative, the incident not only put the lives of healthcare workers at risk but also disrupted the transportation of medicines and other essential supplies meant for patients in vulnerable and conflict-affected areas.
Khongsai said the protest was intended to peacefully condemn the alleged attack and draw attention to the security concerns faced by healthcare workers.
“Medical staff while on duty are not bound by any caste or community affiliation. They are bound only by the responsibility to provide service to humanity,” he said.
He appealed to residents to allow medical teams and essential medical supplies to move without obstruction and urged security agencies to provide adequate protection to healthcare personnel travelling through conflict-sensitive areas.
The protesting healthcare workers demanded action against those responsible for the alleged assault, vandalism and destruction of medical supplies. They also called for concrete measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the Kangpokpi district unit of KWOHR expressed solidarity with the affected doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers and condemned the alleged attack, vandalism of ambulances and destruction of medicines at Chawangkining Liangmei Naga village.
The organisation described the incident as a serious human rights concern and said the alleged violence had affected access to essential healthcare for civilians in the Twilang region.
KWOHR further alleged that continued violence and restrictions on movement in the area had contributed to the deaths of two infants and two adults due to a lack of timely medical attention. These claims could not be independently verified.
The rights body also alleged that groups in Chawangkining had used violence and economic restrictions to restrict the movement of essential commodities and medical assistance, resulting in what it described as a humanitarian crisis.
It additionally alleged that the state had failed to provide adequate security and basic provisions to Kuki-Zo villages in the area.
KWOHR urged the authorities to ensure the unhindered movement of medical teams and essential supplies, strengthen security arrangements and take effective measures to protect civilians and healthcare workers.
The protest comes amid continuing concerns over the safety of frontline medical personnel working in conflict-affected areas of Manipur, where access to essential healthcare often depends on the safe movement of medical teams, ambulances and supplies.