AIZAWL:
Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Mizoram are planning to wear black badges to work on August 20 to protest against the recent assault of a fellow doctor in Aizawl.
The incident had taken place on August 17 at popular skin specialist Dr Zonuna’s private clinic in Aizawl. In a CCTV footage that has gone viral, Milari Chhangte, aged about 33, the only daughter of Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, was seen hitting the doctor with her bare hands. The doctor defended himself by grabbing her hands, others immediately intervened and pushed them apart.
In another video clip, the woman was seen screaming at the doctor from outside the door until her security guard finally led her away.
A few hours after social media was abuzz with the videos, Milari’s elder brother Ramthansiama issued a public apology on social media saying his sister went out of control due to mental depression caused by the wounds on her forehead.
According to Ramthansiama’s statement, his sister was stressed after she injured her forehead during a fall the previous night and was unable to sleep as she feared a scar might form. The next day she decided to consult the skin doctor to find out what medicine she should apply to prevent a scar.
“She was so restless and became impatient while standing in the queue and tried to directly approach the doctor. As the doctor told her he could not see her without prior appointment, she went out of control,” Ramthansiama said, while adding that his sister had mental issues that got worse by the wounds on her forehead.
“No one but my sister was to blame for the unfortunate incident that happened inside the doctor’s clinic. I, on behalf of my family, sincerely apologise to the doctor and the public,” Ramthansiama said in the statement.
The IMA Mizoram branch, in a release on August 19, said it condemned in the strongest terms the assault on their fellow doctor in his own clinic.
“We want that such acts of violence against medical practitioners should never be repeated,” the release said.
The IMA Mizoram branch further urged the state government to enact the Mizoram Protection of Medical Service Personnel and Medical Service Institution (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Loss of Property Act), drafted and submitted to the government by the association.