Rebuttal : Army's assistance to accident victims

12 December 2017:

On 10 December 2017, 4 Assam Regiment organised ‘Advent Christmas Celebrations’ at Moltuk which was attended by approximately 270 locals from adjoining nine villages defying incessant rains for last 48 hours.

Post the conduct of the event, villagers were being escorted back to their village when the Army vehicle of the Battalion sent to drop the locals at 1500 hours, was hit by a civil gypsy moving at a high speed on the wrong side of the road while negotiating a sharp turn.

The said vehicle was part of a group of three vehicles proceeding to Tuidam village to perform the last rites of the deceased Village Chief and that perhaps explains the overspeeding of vehicles in order to reach the destination before last light.

In spite of the fault the civil gypsy driver, which was also accepted by the locals travelling in the Army vehicle, the troops present on the spot acted swiftly and applied their ‘Shell Dressing’ to the injured persons which prevented the crucial loss of blood.

Unit in the meantime ensured that the death body of the deceased Tuidam Chief reaches its destination timely and safety for the conduct of rituals.

The injured were then brought to the MI Room at Moltuk in Army vehicles where they were administered first aid. Unit Medical Officer, located 30 km away was rushed to Moltuk in spite of inclement weather in order to supervise their treatment.

The officer performed local surgery on the lacerated wounds of the injured and prepared them for evacuation to Imphal. Unit then provided its vehicle under a Junior Commissioned Officer for evacuation of the injured persons alongwith two other civil vehicles in the night itself.

It was only when the injured were admitted in the Raj Polyclinic, Imphal after a treacherous journey of 125 kms, that the accompanying army personnel returned to the nearest army base next day.

It is extremely disheartening and painful to note as to how few vested individuals exploited the unfortunate event to spread inaccurate news and propaganda to gain cheap publicity.

4 Assam Regiment has been doing an yeoman service and moving with the local populace in the path of peace and harmony. Irresponsible attempts by a few individuals can vitiate the harmonious environment in the border area. Army and Assam Rifles remain committed to be with the people, for the people.