GUWAHATI, Sep 30: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday apologised to a patient and the family after an ambulance carrying them was stopped in Silchar to allow his convoy to pass. Four police personnel were subsequently suspended for alleged negligence of duty.
Sarma said the incident was unacceptable and directed officials to investigate why his instructions regarding VIP movements were not followed.
“Today in Silchar, an ambulance was halted to make way for my convoy. This is unacceptable, and I apologise to the patient and their family,” Sarma said in a post on X.
He stressed that the movement of a chief minister’s convoy should not come before the urgent medical needs of a patient. Sarma also said his directions were clear that VIP travel must not cause inconvenience to ordinary citizens.
The chief minister said he had asked the authorities to take firm action against those responsible and conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He further directed that the guidelines governing the movement of his convoy be followed strictly and warned that violations would invite disciplinary action.
Sarma was in Silchar to campaign ahead of the October 3 municipal polls in Barak Valley’s main city.
Following the incident, Cachar Superintendent of Police Partha Protim Das issued orders suspending four police personnel with immediate effect. The action was taken over alleged negligence during traffic duty along the route from Chirukandi point to the Barak Valley Secretariat at Srikona, where the ambulance was stopped as the chief minister’s convoy passed.
Those suspended include Sub-Inspector Bijoy Goswami, in-charge of Srikona police outpost, and Sub-Inspector Sibsankar Das of the National Highway outpost, both under Silchar police station.
Lance Naik Jahurul Islam of Katigorah police station and Lance Naik Kawser Ahmed Barbhuiya of the Silchar traffic branch were also placed under suspension.
The suspended personnel have been instructed to report to the Police Reserve in Silchar and surrender their government-issued kits. They must attend the daily roll call and cannot leave the headquarters without prior permission.
They will be entitled to substantive allowance according to applicable rules and will remain suspended until further orders.
The ambulance driver had earlier said the vehicle was stopped for only a few minutes while the chief minister’s convoy passed. Police had initially claimed that the ambulance was not carrying a patient, a statement that drew attention following the chief minister’s apology and subsequent disciplinary action.