Organisations condemn assault on doctor, demand fast track justice

Dimapur, Aug. 22 (EMN): Various organisations have condemned the assault on doctor, Dr. Atoka Wotsa, in-charge of Chumoukedima TrueNat lab centre by Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel on August 21 evening at Dhobinala in Dimapur and demanded justice.

NNF: The Nagaland NGOs Forum (NNF) has sought fast track justice on the alleged assault of a doctor, a frontline worker on Covid-19 duty, by Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel.

In a representation to state’s deputy chief minister, the NNF has condemned the behaviour of law enforcing personnel for ‘terrorising people by taking the law into their own hands’.

The forum appealed to the government to promptly investigate the whole gamut of the incident and bring the culprits to an unbiased justice without delay.

SDA: The Sumi Doctors Association (SDA) has expressed shock and dismay at the brutal assault meted out to one of its bonafide members Dr. Atoka Wotsa by the IRB personnel while he was returning after performing his mandated duty.

“While risking our life on the call of duty it is very disturbing to experience the trauma of harassment and assault meted out to the member of medical fraternity while on the line of duty and still in uniform by people who are supposed to protect us while performing our duties even during odd hours,” stated a press release from SDA on Saturday.

The degree of assault and the dent on the vehicle bonnet bear testimony to the ‘evil intent of the rogue IRB personnel,’ it added.

The association appealed to the concerned authority to award exemplary punishment to the erring personnel to serve as a deterrent in the future and also to restore the faith of the people at large and the medical fraternity on the police force as guardians of law.

PAN: The Pathologist Association of Nagaland (PAN) has strongly condemned the act of aggression and brutality upon its member who was on active Covid-19 duty.

Stating that such actions cannot be tolerated and should not be repeated in the future, the association demanded immediate action from the concerned authority.

IDANSB: The Indian Dental Association Nagaland State Branch (IDANSB) has condemned the unwarranted act of IRB personnel on Dr. Atoka Wotsa.

Despite assurance given by the state government to the medical fraternity that remedial measures would be taken so that no such untoward incidents will happen in the days to come, physical assault of doctors by uniform personnel has become a habit and cannot be tolerated anymore, it stated.

Time and again, doctors have been victims of police brutality in the state. Yet the medical fraternity in the spirit of humanity has been tolerant and just, it added.

IDANSB appealed to the government of the day to look into the matter with utmost seriousness and take immediate action by suspending and terminating those personnel involved.

CPO: The Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) also expressed shock at the assault to Dr. Atoka Wotsa.

“It is extremely unfortunate to witness this kind of brutality again to the medical fraternity at critical times like this when they are working so hard to fight the pandemic,” CPO stated.

While condemning the act in the highest manner, the CPO said such an act committed by police personnel is ‘highly objectionable.’

“CPO stands with Dr. Atako Wotsa and appeals to concerned authorities to immediately book and punish the culprits as per the law,” it added.

NMDA: The Nagaland Medical Dealers Association (NMDA) has condemned the assault on Dr. Atoka Wotsa, in-charge of Chumoukedima TrueNat lab centre by the IRB personnel on the evening of August 21.

The association appealed to the police authority and administration to punish the culprits as per the law, so that no such incident repeats in future.

NMDA also pointed out that this is not the first time that a doctor has been assaulted by the uniform personnel. Such repeated incidents will create fear in the mind of frontline workers who are on duty, it stated.