Silchar, September 30: An ambulance carrying a patient was stopped in Silchar, Assam, to allow Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s convoy to pass, triggering public criticism and prompting disciplinary action against four police personnel.
The incident took place on Wednesday during Sarma’s visit to Silchar. Reports said the ambulance was halted while police personnel were managing traffic and route arrangements for the Chief Minister’s convoy. A video of the incident circulated on social media, drawing attention to the delay faced by the emergency vehicle.
Reacting to the incident, Sarma publicly apologised to the patient and the family. He described the stoppage of the ambulance as unacceptable and said that the movement of a Chief Minister’s convoy should never take precedence over a person requiring urgent medical care. He also ordered an inquiry into how the instructions governing VIP movement were not followed.
Following the Chief Minister’s directive, four Assam Police personnel were suspended pending a departmental inquiry. The action was taken by the Cachar police administration, with the personnel directed to report to police headquarters while the inquiry proceeds.
The episode has renewed discussion around VIP convoy arrangements and the need to ensure that emergency vehicles are not delayed during security or traffic restrictions. Social media users questioned the circumstances that led to an ambulance being stopped and raised broader concerns about balancing security protocols for public officials with uninterrupted access for emergency medical services.
Authorities have indicated that the inquiry will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and responsibility for the delay. The episode has also highlighted the importance of ensuring that instructions concerning emergency vehicles are followed on the ground during VIP movements.
