East Jaintia Hills, July 31: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) Central Body has alleged that its ambulance and medical team were attacked while responding to an emergency rescue mission late on the night of July 30, leaving the driver and medical attendants injured and the ambulance extensively damaged.
In a statement issued by JSU Education Secretary Bocheru Mi Pohsnem, the Union said the ambulance was dispatched from Cement Bazar to Shnong Rim at approximately 11:40 PM to evacuate civilians reportedly injured during clashes linked to the proposed Shree Cement public hearing.
According to the JSU, the ambulance was intercepted before reaching its destination by a group of individuals allegedly armed with stones and sticks. The Union claimed that the attackers smashed the vehicle’s windshield, severely damaged the ambulance, and physically assaulted the driver, Rapbor Mukhim, along with the accompanying medical attendants.
The Union said the crew managed to escape the attack and returned to the dispatch point at around 12:30 AM on July 31. The injured personnel were later taken to Sutnga Community Health Centre (CHC) for medical treatment.
The JSU alleged that the attack was orchestrated by “local mafias and goondas associated with Shree Cement” in Elaka Ningkhleih. However, these allegations have not been independently verified, and no official confirmation has been issued by the police, the district administration, or Shree Cement.
Condemning the incident, the Union described it as a serious attack on humanitarian services, stating that ambulances and emergency medical personnel should never be targeted while carrying out rescue operations. It further termed the assault a grave threat to frontline responders and said it would pursue all available legal and peaceful means to ensure accountability.
The JSU has urged the district administration and law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate investigation into the incident, identify those responsible, ensure the safety of emergency responders, and protect the public’s right to participate peacefully in democratic processes.
As of the time of publication, no official response had been issued by the district administration, the police, or Shree Cement regarding the allegations made by the Union.
