Manipur: Kangpokpi medics protest alleged attack on medical team, seek security for healthcare workers

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district staged a protest on Saturday, August 29 wearing black badges outside the District Hospital, condemning the alleged assault on a medical team at Chawangkining village on August 27 and demanding stronger security for personnel performing their duties in conflict-sensitive areas.

The protest was held 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, sustained injuries in the incident. Three ambulances were also allegedly vandalised, while medicines worth lakhs of rupees were reportedly destroyed.

The protesting healthcare workers carried placards with messages including “Protect Medics, Protect Humanity”, “Save Doctors to Save Patients”, “Doctors Deserve Dignity, Not Violence” and “Burning of Medicines is Burning of Human Life”.

Addressing the media, Dr Len Kamkhosat Khongsai, Senior Specialist, Public Health and representative of the Kangpokpi Health Department, said the medical team was carrying out official duties when it was allegedly stopped by the mob.

Khongsai alleged that the attackers took medicines from an ambulance and burnt them before assaulting doctors and other medical personnel inside the vehicles.

“The mob tried to dislodge the doctors and medical staff from the ambulances and attacked them with stones, boulders and sticks/lathis. All the glass panes of the ambulances were broken,” he alleged.

He further alleged that security personnel present at the location did not actively intervene to disperse the mob and that the medical team ultimately relied on the ambulance drivers to leave the area safely.

According to the Health Department representative, the incident endangered the lives of medical personnel and disrupted the transportation of medicines and other essential supplies intended for patients in vulnerable and conflict-affected areas.

Khongsai said the protest was intended to peacefully condemn the alleged attack and highlight the need to ensure the safety of 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 not to obstruct the movement of medical teams or medical supplies and urged security agencies to ensure effective protection for healthcare personnel travelling through conflict-sensitive areas.

The protesters demanded action against those responsible for the alleged assault, vandalism and destruction of medical supplies, besides measures to prevent similar incidents.

Meanwhile, the Kangpokpi district unit of KWOHR expressed solidarity with the affected doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers and condemned the alleged assault, 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 attack had affected access to essential healthcare for civilians in the Twilang region.

KWOHR 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 allegations could not be independently verified.

The rights body also alleged that groups in Chawangkining had used violence and economic restrictions to obstruct the movement of essential commodities and medical assistance, creating what it termed a humanitarian crisis.

It further alleged that the state had failed to adequately ensure security and basic provisions for Kuki-Zo villages in the area.

KWOHR called on the authorities to ensure unhindered movement of medical teams and essential supplies, strengthen security arrangements and take effective steps to protect civilians and healthcare workers.

The protest comes amid continuing concerns over the safety of frontline medical personnel operating in conflict-affected parts of Manipur, where access to healthcare can depend on the ability of medical teams and supplies to move safely through sensitive areas.