Magisterial inquiry ordered into hospital vandalism

Special Correspondent

 SILCHAR, March 25: That there is seriously something wrong in the magement of hospitals in the state of Assam once again came out when a mob of agitated people went for vandalism inside the Lakhipur hospital in the morning of last Tuesday. They were highly angered at the death of a pregnt woman Ranja Begum around the midnight of Monday, alleging negligence by the attending doctor and nursing staff without identifying them. According to an eye-witness account, after the death of Ranja Begum, her husband Sebul Laskar, resident of ward 3 of the sub-divisiol town, took the dead body home for necessary last rites.

 As the news of the death of Ranja spread, a mob of hundreds of people came around the hospital and went wild by ransacking the hospital and the adjoining staff quarters. In this sudden and surprise vandalism, four nursing staff were injured who included Patambi Devi, nda Rani Devi, Lucky Baby and Jubeda Khatun. All of them are undergoing treatment in Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Two others identified as Archa Bhattacharjee, nurse, and Rajat Das, a IVth grade employee, were also injured and admitted in the local hospital.

 According to hospital sources, properties inside the hospital and the staff quarters damaged would amount to Rs.3 lakh. The ransacking of the hospital has created a sense of panic among the doctors and the nursing staff who have almost left and deserted the hospital, leaving behind Dr. Y Kishore Singh, SDMO, in-charge of the hospital. At the time of the reporting, the situation remains unchanged.

 Just after the violent incident, SDO (Civil) Dewlagopo in order to assuage the agitated mob gave in writing assurance to remove Dr. Shekhar Das, SDMO, accused of negligence. The joint director of health, Dr. Sudipjyoti Das, who too reached the place, made a statement that he would write to the State Government for providing compensation of Rs.2 lakh to the family of Ranja Begum. In the meantime, though normalcy has come back, still the doctors and staffs are reluctant to join their duties, apprehending further attacks.

 They have demanded arrest of the culprits immediately. Though more than 24 hours have elapsed after the violent incident, no arrest has been made. The magisterial inquiry by Pradip Kumar Gupta is expected to find out the causes behind public outrage and also the exact reason behind the death of Ranja Begum, besides other related issues. Rajdeep Goala, MLA of Lakhipur, who is at Guwahati, has in a statement blamed the leader of a political party for instigating the people for violence.