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Shillong, Sept. 26: Doctors in the Garo hills region, under the banner of the Meghalaya Medical Services Association (MMSA), will stage a 24-hour ceasework tomorrow to protest against the alleged harassment meted out to a doctor by police in South Garo Hills.
Last evening, Walesa N. Sangma, a doctor of Chokpot primary health centre, was allegedly dragged to the Chokpot police station after he protested against police vehicles being stationed on the health centre campus.
For the past few months, around 15 constables of the 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion, who were engaged in counter insurgency operations in South Garo Hills, were stationed at an indoor stadium close to the health centre.
“The action by the police personnel was unwarranted. Hence, we have decided to observe a 24-hour ceasework beginning from 9am throughout the Garo hills region,” association general secretary Aman War said.
Tomorrow the association will ask the government to take stern action against the police personnel, he added.
“We will wait till Friday and if nothing is done against the police constables, we will launch a state-wide 24-hour ceasework. We will also launch more severe agitation programmes,” War said.
South Garo Hills officiating deputy commissioner Davidson Sangma said over phone that he had instituted a magisterial inquiry, headed by additional district magistrate A.M. Sangma. The magistrate has been asked to submit his report within 15 days, Sangma said. A joint meeting was held today with NGO leaders, doctors, police and others to ensure that the issue is amicably solved.
N. Rajamarthandan, 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion commandant, said he would visit Chokpot tomorrow for a spot assessment.
As of now, no action has been initiated against the personnel, and a detailed report from the South Garo Hills police on the incident was awaited, Rajamarthandan said.
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