A major government hospital in Imphal, Manipur, was stormed by a mob on Thursday after it was revealed that a Myanmar citizen, who had fled the fighting in his country, was receiving treatment there. The mob dispersed only after the police deployed teargas.
The incident occurred at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in the afternoon when news spread about the admission of the Myanmar national. Additionally, a rumor had circulated claiming that the patient was a “Kuki militant.”
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According to the police, the man, identified as Khoantum from Myanmar’s Sagaing region, died at the hospital on Thursday afternoon from bullet injuries sustained during the fighting in his home country. Despite attempts to contact JNIMS medical superintendent Dr. Lokeshwar Singh for comment, no response was received.
A security source revealed that Khoantum was a civilian who crossed the porous international border into Manipur seeking medical aid after being injured in Myanmar. He initially received first aid at an Assam Rifles post in Kamjong district and was later handed over to the Manipur Police for further treatment in Imphal.
The ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities in Manipur has led to a rigid division between areas dominated by either community. The Meitei community, in the majority in Imphal where JNIMS is located, blames uncontrolled illegal immigration from Myanmar, particularly from the Chin people who share the same ethnicity as the Kuki-Zomis, for the instability in the state.
Myanmar has experienced a surge in violence since October 27, with coordinated attacks against the military junta occurring in different parts of the country. This escalation has resulted in more than 5,000 people seeking refuge in Mizoram, including areas along the Indian border.
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The incident at JNIMS highlights the tensions and anxieties surrounding the influx of individuals fleeing the conflict in Myanmar. It also underscores the challenges faced by medical institutions in providing care to those affected, as well as the need for better communication and understanding among communities to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
