A woman undergoing treatment at the ICU of RIMS hospital died on Wednesday after undergoing treatment due to suffocation from tear gas, allegedly fired to disperse a mob. The last rites of Sanjita will be conducted on Thursday.
Thirty-four-year-old Laishram Ningol Sanjita Devi was admitted to RIMS hospital in her third trimester after experiencing suffocation caused by a tear gas shell, which had fallen very close to her residence on September 11.
The incident occurred during a public agitation demanding the transfer of security power to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh by handing over the Unified Command to the Manipur government. The Unified Command is currently under the control of the Central government.
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On September 14, at around 5 am, she delivered a stillborn fetus. Since then, she had been undergoing treatment in the ICU with ventilator support, remaining in critical condition. The RIMS authorities declared her dead on Wednesday at around 2.28 pm. Her body was admitted to the mortuary after obtaining consent from her husband and family members.
As per the demand of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the incident, an autopsy was conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate.
The JAC met with CM N. Biren Singh on Sunday and submitted a memorandum demanding the cessation of excessive force by security personnel against protestors and financial assistance for the treatment of Sanjita and others affected.
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On Wednesday evening, the action committee met CM N Biren Singh again, and the demands were accepted, which included taking Sanjita’s body from the RIMS morgue at 11 am on Thursday, honouring both the mother and child with the title ‘Athouba,’ and providing ex-gratia.
In response to the demands, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Singjamei Police Station, K. Sunderbala, has been transferred to the Vigilance Department as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
William, the convenor of the action committee, stated that Sanjita’s body would be received from the RIMS morgue at 11 am on Thursday for her last rites at Kakwa.
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