IMPHAL, April 28 - �Doctors are there to treat victims of bomb blasts, not to become victims,� said the doctors of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here, who protested against recent bomb attack at the residence of one their colleagues.
A hand grenade lobbed by suspected militants exploded at the front courtyard of Dr Thokchom Chito who is the head of the cardiothoracic department of RIMS on the night of April 24. No casualty was reported in the blast. However, damages were caused to the main entrance gate and a car parked at the front courtyard of the doctor�s residence at Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai here.
Denouncing the bomb attack, doctors and PG students of RIMs staged a sit-in-protest in front of the OPD block of the hospital on Saturday, suspending their duties. The protest was staged under the aegis of RIMS Teachers and Medical Officers� Association.
Taking part in the protest, Dr Akoijam Ibohal, general secretary of the Association, strongly condemned the attack and said, �If such attacks continue, doctors will no longer be able to treat patients,� he said, adding, �to serve the people, doctors need a peaceful environment.�
Dr Ibohal also said instead of threatening or attacking doctors, the attackers should come out and sort out any misunderstandings. �Everything can be settled through talks,� he said while alleging that there was no prior warning or extortion demand from any of the militant outfits to the doctor.
�Doctors are here to save people�s lives. So, we must be allowed to serve the people without any threat,� he said, urging the attackers not to repeat such heinous acts in future.
Dr Ibohal demanded an investigation into the incident by the authority concerned of the state government so that the culprits are arrested at the earliest.
During the protest, placards were displayed at the protest venue.
