Abducted Doctor, nurse rescued but...Anger pours out, dharna remains the only option
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 14, 2010: Though Medical Officer in-charge of Mekola Primary Health Centre Dr RK Joymati and staff nurse Kabita have been rescued by security personnel today morning, protest demonstrations were staged at different parts decrying the abduction of Dr RK Joymati and staff nurse Kabita by suspected armed cadres of KCP-MTF.

The OPD and Casualty ward of JN Hospital also remained closed today in protest against the abduction.

Wife of Sinam Shantikumar of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, Dr Joymati is the Medical Officer in-charge of Mekola Primary Health Centre while Kabita of Govindgram is a staff nurse in the same health centre.

They were abducted by armed cadres of KCP-MTF after taking them along on the pretext of attending to an emergency case of road accident.

Doctors and staff of Directorate of Health Services, RIMS Road, demonstrated against the abduction in their office complex.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, Director of Health Services Y Yaima observed that doctors are in the service of the people and they can be approached at anytime by anybody.

But the incident of abducting Dr Joymati and her staff nurse Kabita by lying that their service is needed in connection with treatment of some people who met accident is condemnable.

(L to R) Rescued doctor RK Joymati in specs and behind her is staff nurse Kavita and protest on

Such blatant lie would make the doctors to hesitate from anybody in future.

Informing that Dr Joymati and Kabita have been rescued by security personnel today morning and they have been subsequently handed over to Nambol Police Station, the Director disclosed that the Department has been receiving threats over monetary demand from some UG groups and the abduction may be related to these monetary demands.

Chief Medical Officer of Imphal West Dr Bimolakumari appealed to all concerned not to give any sort of disturbance to health sector and its institutes and personnel.

Placards inscribed with slogans like 'Release our innocent staff unconditionally', 'Let hospital and health institutions be peace zone', 'We want peace', 'Don't terrorise health institutions and staff', etc used at the protest site.

Staff and employees of JN Hospital and JNIMS also jointly staged a Wakat Meepham inside the hospital complex today protesting against the abduction of Dr RK Joymati and staff nurse Kabita.

Following the protest demonstration, the OPD and Casualty ward of JN Hospital remain shut down for the day.

Superintendent of JN Hospital and Director of JNIMS were among those who participated in the Wakat Meepham during which an adhoc welfare committee for staff and employees of JN Hospital and JNIMS had also been formed with Dr Th Joy as president.

Talking to mediapersons, Dr Joy observed it is unreasonable to abduct medical staff or subject them to frequent threats because they are in no way related to release of fund or grant of contract works.

Such fear psychosis would affect the medical staff in discharging their duty efficiently.

Similar protest demonstration was also organised under the aegis of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai Nupi Lup at Ema Panthoibi Sanglen, Lamphel today.

Participating in the protest demonstration, president of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai Nupi Lup Longjam Joymati said that it is despicable that UG groups which proclaim to work for the welfare of the people have to resort to lying at the time of abducting Dr Joymati and her staff nurse Kabita.

No doctor would be able to trust anybody when they come for help in future, she noted.