The militant groups warned that they would begin closely monitoring hospitals to prevent further fatalities, raising concerns over civilian healthcare intrusion.
BY PC Bureau
September 25, 2025 – In a rare joint statement, five banned militant groups in Manipur—Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), PREPAK (Pro) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF)—have accused doctors and staff at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, of gross negligence that they allege led to multiple patient deaths.
The outfits, operating under the umbrella of Apunba Cherol and its newly formed Yaowllup Singgi Apunba Committee, claimed that five recent deaths at RIMS highlighted “systemic neglect” within the hospital.
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VIDEO | Manipur: Doctors, nurses, staff and students of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in capital Imphal staged a protest demanding “justice” after a senior consultant of the facility was assaulted during an agitation over the death of a woman patient.
As a… pic.twitter.com/LLFLBNAJC5
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 23, 2025
The statement listed specific cases:
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Hijam Ongbi Ibemcha (52): admitted on August 19 with kidney complications and operated upon the same day. The groups alleged negligence during the procedure led to her death.
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Yengkhom Kesho (57): admitted on August 31 following a stroke. Despite undergoing CT scans and ICU treatment, he died on September 1. The groups alleged delays and mismanagement.
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Gotimayum Ongbi Ranibala (36): admitted on September 15 for surgery, operated upon on September 18, but later succumbed. The groups alleged improper surgical handling.
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Yambem Sanjoy (52): admitted to RIMS casualty on September 20. According to the groups, despite diagnostic tests and ECG procedures, his condition deteriorated rapidly and he died the same day.
The statement accused RIMS doctors of “failure to follow proper guidelines” and warned of action if such incidents continued.
Significantly, the groups also declared that they would begin closely monitoring treatment at hospitals to prevent further loss of lives, a move that observers say marks an unprecedented intrusion of militant outfits into the civilian healthcare sphere.
The militant organisations further stated that any action against medical practitioners found “guilty of negligence” would be carried out in public, in the name of what they described as “transparency.”
There has been no official response yet from the Manipur government or RIMS authorities regarding the allegations and warnings.
