Hospital not a battleground: RIMS nurses oppose security action inside campus

The ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur have spilled into one of the state's premier healthcare institutions, with three bullet-injured Kuki youths receiving treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) amid protests, heightened security and appeals from healthcare workers to preserve the neutrality of medical facilities.

According to RIMS authorities, the three injured youths were brought to the hospital on June 15 from Leimakhong by the 183 Military Hospital for emergency treatment after sustaining gunshot wounds during recent violence in the state.

The patients have been identified as Lunliandan Vaiphei (20) of Kamu Tangom village in Senapati district, Genzamang Vaiphei (18) of Mission Veng, Leimakhong, and Paogoulal Chongloi (18) of P. Moulding village, Leimakhong.

Hospital officials said Lunliandan suffered bullet injuries to his forearm and buttock, while Genzamang sustained wounds to his chest and shoulder. Paogoulal received gunshot injuries to his chest and abdomen. All three underwent surgery and are reportedly responding well to treatment, with their conditions steadily improving.

In an official statement, the RIMS Media Cell reiterated that the institute's primary responsibility is to provide medical care to all patients irrespective of background or circumstances.

"The sole responsibility of RIMS is to provide medical care to all patients brought to the hospital. It is the professional, ethical and humanitarian duty of doctors and healthcare workers to attend to and treat patients," the statement said, urging the public not to disrupt essential healthcare services.

The treatment of the injured youths triggered protests by some civil society groups, who demanded their transfer from the hospital, alleging their involvement in attacks on civilians. Security forces were subsequently deployed around the hospital premises to maintain law and order.

However, the security operation itself drew criticism from the RIMS Nurses Association. Addressing a press conference, the association's General Secretary, L Rajanibala Devi, expressed concern over the alleged use of smoke bombs and tear gas within the hospital campus during crowd-control measures on June 15.

"A hospital is a place for healing. Any action that needs to be carried out should be done outside the hospital premises. We urge the authorities to maintain peace and normalcy within the campus," she said.

The nurses' body also objected to the continued deployment of security vehicles and personnel inside the campus, arguing that it created an atmosphere of fear among patients, attendants and healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, representatives of several Naga civil society organisations met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand to discuss the issue. Following the meeting, Imagi Meira convenor Th Sujata claimed that the Chief Minister had verbally assured them that the injured patients would be shifted from RIMS by June 16 in an effort to ease tensions.

In a related development, the Kuki Inpi Manipur announced the immediate withdrawal of its economic blockade after receiving assurances from the government regarding the supply of foodgrains and essential commodities to Kuki-Zo inhabited areas. The organisation, however, warned that uninterrupted delivery of food, fuel, medicines and other essentials must be ensured within 48 hours.

The episode has once again highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare institutions in conflict-affected regions, with medical professionals stressing the need to keep hospitals insulated from political and ethnic disputes while ensuring uninterrupted treatment for all patients.