Gunda Raj in Silchar Medical College and Hospital; Home guard assaults journalist attending his sister-in-law; "Official disengaged" SP

The maternity ward of the Silchar Medical College and Hospital was in State news a week back. One doctor was accused of assaulting a pregnant woman awaiting delivery. The attendants weren’t allowed in the section and when the mother of the pregnant lady requested the authority to let her stay with her daughter, she was misbehaved with by the staff. Other attendants walked in and then there was a quarrel. According to the family members, the doctor removed the intravenous cannula and the pregnant lady was bleeding. The family members said as they desperately cried for help, the doctor kicked the patient. The SMCH’s senior management shielded the young doctor and like his parents, protected him from any investigation. The doctor, went back to his room with the attitude, “Whatever I have done was right, will do the same again.”

The victim was an inconsequential, just another common resident of Barak Valley. The person who brought it to the light was an influential man associated with a political party and so, it got some press but the doctor and the culture of misbehaving with the poor and middle-class residents were very much promoted. Press too did not take sides rather protected the “image” of SMCH. In fact, the Principal of SMCH was quoted by a leading newspaper saying, “The attendants had put the lives of many newborns at risk.” as they protested against gross misbehavior.

Cut to the early hours of November 13, journalist Biswakalyan Purkayastha went to the same maternity ward to deliver food to the attendant of his Sister-In-Law, who gave birth to a baby boy on November 11. After the incident, Purkayastha wrote on Facebook, “My sister-in-law gave birth to a boy in SMCH yesterday and she was in critical condition. Today doctors suggested us to give her soft food tomorrow morning. I went to SMCH to provide food for the lady family member who is attending to the patient for the night. I took permission and went to my sister-in-law to ask what kind of food she wants, she replied immediately and I returned in less than 2 minutes.”

He adds, “A man in Khaki uniform verbally ill-behaved with me and I politely requested him not to do that. He asked me what work I do, I said that I work for a newspaper. Another home guard mocked it, which I ignored. I requested him to call any journalist, he knows, ask if I am wrong. But suddenly a home guard, identified as S Deb started beating me with a stick.”

With marks of wounds on his back and hands signifying a brutal assault, Purkayastha was rushed to the Silchar Civil Hospital where he was checked by doctors. He is a renowned journalist in Barak Valley and the insulting, painful assault on him by a man in uniform irked many. Matter was reported to the Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta who assured that he will personally look into the matter. In fact, going above and beyond the call of duty, he rushed to the hospital to check on Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha. He was accompanied by other top cops.

The SP confirmed that the accused Home Guard official has been disengaged. He informed that the Police did not deploy the Home Guard, the troop was requisitioned by SMCH authority.

Though Silchar Medical College and Hospital developed itself leaps and bounds in the last three years, yet, these incidents make it a hostile territory. The impression among the minds of doctors, nurses and security staff remains that whoever checks in at SMCH belongs to a certain income category and they do not deserve any respect. Hence this behavior.

Now that the matter has come under the spotlight, will the SP go beyond pleasing the media fraternity and initiate a course correction? For the attack on Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha, a daily wager in the form of a Home Guard official has been disengaged but what about the assault of the pregnant lady? Biswa Kalyan did not lodge an FIR and yet the Police took action, but, when it comes to the common people belonging to middle-class families without any connection with influential individuals, why does the Police wait for an FIR? What about the many many many other such similar stories that come out of SMCH?