Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 11:
With RIMS remaining shut for the second day today to protest the abduction of Asst Prof Dr Y Nandabir, a number of civil societies and the medical fraternity have condemned the abduction and appealed to the concerned to release the doctor immediately without any harm.
Making his stand clear, Prof L Fimate, Director of RIMS in a statement appealed to the Human Rights Protection Guild to release the doctor and added that a ransom of Rs 30 lakhs has been demanded from RIMS for the release of the doctor.
RIMS does not the have the funds to pay the ransom, said Prof Fimate and hence it would not be possible to pay the amount demanded by the Guild.
Appealing to the Guild to release the doctor without any harm, the Director said that doctors are not moneyed people and added that the wife and children of Dr Nandabir have not been taking food and spending sleepless nights ever since he was abducted.
The cease work strike launched by the doctors of RIMS has also inconvenienced the people no end, said the Director.
JN hospital also convened an emergency meeting today under its Superintendent Dr W Motilal Singh today.
Twenty doctors were present at the meeting.
The doctors dubbed the abduction as a cowardly act and appealed to the concerned to release the doctor without any harm.
The Teachers and Medical Officers' Association of RIMS also staged a sit-in-protest in front of the OPD section of the hospital from 10 am to 1 pm today.
A special general body meeting of the association was also convened wherein it was decided to continue the sit-in-protest and not admit any new patient including medico-legal cases, said the association.
The Association of Junior Doctors of RIMS also convened a general body meeting today wherein the members strongly condemned the abduction of the doctor and appealed to the abductors to release the doctor without any harm.
The cease work launched from 6 pm of May 10 will continue until the doctor is released, added the junior doctors in a statement.
The Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Chapter and Non-teaching Employees' Welfare Association of RIMS have also strongly condemned the abduction.
The Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) has also appealed to the concerned to release the doctor immediately reasoning that even in times of war the medical establishments are not targeted.
The abduction of the doctor has left many sick and ailing in the lurch, said the HERICOUN in a statement and added that it amount to robbing the people their right to get medical treatment.
Joining in the chorus of appeals to release the doctor, Students Federation of India, Manipur State Committee today said that harassing doctors amounts to inconveniencing the poorer section of society who cannot afford to go to private hospitals.
The closure of RIMS OPD and Casualty ward has inconvenienced the people no end, said the student body and appealed to the doctors to resume service in the interest of the people who cannot afford private hospitals.