Dimapur, August 24 (MExN): Following the alleged assault of a COVID-19 frontline doctor on August 21, more organizations have come forward voicing resentment and condemning the incident.
Dr Atoka Wotsa, a pathologist and incharge of the Chümoukedima TrueNat Lab, was reportedly assaulted by NAP (IR) personnel while he was on his way to his quarantine quarters on August 21 last night.
NPF: The Naga People’s Front (NFP) expressing deep anguish over the alleged physical assault condemned the “high-handedness of the security personnel that instead of maintaining law and order situation, they are the cause behind the troublemaker of the society.”
The NPF Press Bureau in a condemnation note stated unbelief that the police personnel during this time of pandemic do not spare even the frontline workers particularly the medical doctors on duty then how can the security of the public can be guarantee under such circumstances.”
Stating that the 21st August incident cannot be termed as unfortunate, as many similar attacks on the medical personnel by the police forces have been reported time and again, NPF demanded that “the Government of the day should take full responsible for such brutally high-handedness incident and the Government should also assured the safety of the people.”
It also alleged that the lackadaisical attitude of the PDA Government clearly shows that there is no proper coordination between various Government departments and machineries. “During the time of pandemic, the Government is supposed to be monitoring and supervising the whole situation, however, the poor coordination within the Government set up has proven their incapability to handle the Government,” it stated.
Further, “even though, the inquiry committee has been set up to probe the case,” the NPF has demanded a clear written explanation from the Home Minister, Y Patton as to why the police personnel have become a threat of the society and assurance to booked the guilty immediately.
NSF: The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) also condemning the August 21 incident pointed out that on April 3, Dr Nosezol Sezo, Senior Medical Officer of Community Health Centre Medziphema was physically assaulted by Special Task Force personnel at Purana Bazar and soon after, another doctor at Wokha town was allegedly assaulted by police personnel.
While it is appreciated that the two previous incidents have been amicably resolved following the State government's intervention, the federation expressed its deep concern and strong resentment against such recurring incidents, and appealed to the respective authority to take stern disciplinary actions on the erring personnel as per law so that such incidents are not repeated again.
Furthermore, NSF has appealed to all the frontline workers for more co-ordinated efforts amongst the circle to ensure that such untoward incidents are averted in the near future.
NSF also stated that the yeomen service being rendered by the state police force towards ensuring the proper enforcement of the lockdown measures in our collective bid to contain the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) is appreciated however, it is one of incidents such as this that takes away the shine from their selfless sacrifices.
Further, in the wake of increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state, NSF has reiterated its earlier appeal to the general public to adopt a responsible lifestyle and strictly conform to the norms being laid down by the concerned authorities.
NIDA: The Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) stated that it is “outraged to learn about the barbaric assault of its member, Dr Atoka Wotsa.”
“The tolerance level of the Association has reached its tipping point due to repeat of such abhorrent incidences in the recent COVID-19 times. Therefore, unless an exemplary action is immediately initiated by concerned authority as demanded by the NIDA Unit Dimapur, the Association will be compelled to resort to undesirable repercussive measures which will totally jeopardize the entire health services throughout the state,” the Association stated in a press release.
“At this juncture, the medical fraternity, most humbly, solicit the support of the public and NGOs to ensure timely justice to the aggrieved,” it added.
NIDA NHAK Unit: The Naga Hospital Authority Kohima Unit of NIDA has vehemently condemned the “barbaric assault” meted out to one of their bona fide members. The NHAK Unit stated that it is in full support of the charter of demands placed before the authorities concerned by the Dimapur unit of NIDA and further endorsed by the NIDA President. “We stand resolutely behind any decision made by the NIDA executive body regarding future course of action on this matter till justice is delivered,” it stated.
DSC: The Dimapur Sümi Council (DSC) while condemning the alleged assault stated that this is not the first incident where the frontline health workers were manhandled by police personnel. The Council therefore, has demanded a thorough investigation and an exemplary action be taken as per law against the culprit/s.
“Our doctors, nurses and other frontline workers who have been working tirelessly round the clock and overburdened since the onset of this COVID pandemic, and instead of showing our gratitude they are meted with disrespect and inhumane way causing them not mental stress but also inflicting physical torture,” the DSC lamented.
It appreciated the state Government for setting up an Inquiry Committee on the unfortunate incident and “expects a fair judgment follows suit.”
SAH: Commending the alleged assault, the Sumi Aphuyemi Hoho (SAH) stated that it appreciates every frontline worker, be it police personnel, health workers or sanitation workers and “everybody is stressing particular during this pandemic but venting out one's stress in uncivilized action is unacceptable.”
“Any citizen of the land is expected to be safe at the hand of the police personnel but instead of protecting and guiding the citizens at the death of the night, harassing the public is most unfortunate and unacceptable,” the Hoho stated in a press release.
The Hoho has also requested the Inquiry Committee to delivery justice as per the laws at the earliest and make it public so that recurrent of such action be avoided and the people will have confidence in the police Department.
KVC: The Kitami Village Council (KVC) has condemned the “physical assault” on Dr Atoka S Wotsa who is a citizen of Kitami village.
The KVC in a condemnation note expressed shocked as “to how uniformed personal, who are supposed to maintain law and order and to support its citizen in time of crises in the society could instead violated the law and physically assaulted the innocent man that too a doctor.”
KVC stated that such inhuman acts on the innocent doctor are purely barbarian and it is intolerable to us. The village further appeal and demanded the government to take stern action against the erring personal and give immediate justice to the victim.
PSU: Puneboqa Students’ Union (PSU) has also condemned the incident in which Dr Atoka Wotsa was allegedly assaulted by the IRB personnel.
The Union in a press release expressed is shocked at the handling of the incident by the IRB Personnel. “Each and every member of the law enforcing department has to know that they have the responsibilities of not only maintaining law and order, but they have special responsibilities of building trusts of the fellow citizens of the state,” the Union stated while urging the state Government to take strict action against the erring personnel.
KTCN: The Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) in its condemning note has requested the authorities concerned for transparent investigation at the earliest and without any biasness to deliver justice to the victim and also to prevent such incidences in the future. The Council in a press release stated that the need of the hour is for the frontline workers to work hand in hand and appealed all to coordinate and cooperate with them. It also thanked the frontline workers for their selfless efforts in this fight against the pandemic.
ASTD: The Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) while condemning the “brutal assault” on Dr Atoka expressed that “brutalities of police personal are becoming a regular phenomenon and even the frontline workers especially doctors are not being spared.”
Therefore, ASTD has appealed the authorities concerned to initiate unbiased investigation against the erring personals as per the law so as to “constrain such evil intent of rogue IRB personals in future.”
ASTD urged all frontline workers to set aside their difference and work hand and hand in the fight against COVID-19 and it hopes that due justice will be delivered to the victim at the earliest in an unbiased manner.
Further, considering the high number of COVID-19 positive cases in Dimapur district the ASTD has urged the concern authorities and the Government to depute more manpower into the medical department to compact the pandemic.
Mention may be made here that the Government of Nagaland has constituted an Inquiry Committee to conduct an inquiry into the incident on August 23. According to a notification from the Principal Secretary home, Abhijit Sinha, the Committee is to submit the report within 7 days of the date of issue of the notification.
