Port Blair, July 11: CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee strongly condemned the lathi charge resorted to on the peaceful protestors of Telugu Fishermen community at Goalghar and nearby areas in the night of 10 th July, 2024. In a letter sent to the Lt. Governor, A & N Islands, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee termed the lathi charge as completely unprovoked and unwarranted, directly resorted to without following light measures like water cannon and tear gas shells, etc. He told the Lt Governor that this shows the authoritarian attitude and intolerence on the part of the A & N Administration, directly under the central government, towards the peaceful agitation by the people in a democratic manner.
CPI (M) said that after the tragic death of a young woman of Dairy Farm, Port Blair, V. Vimala, aged 21 years, members belonging to the Telugu fishermen community have been on peaceful agitation for the last few days, demanding, among other things, action against the erring doctors and staff of GB Pant Hospital who attended the victim and adequate compensation to the family of the victim.
CPI (M) observed that the Post Mortem Examination (PME) of the deceased woman was carried out on the basis of an assurance given by the authorities that the result of the PME will be made available to them within 2 days. The PME was not made available to the family members of the victim in sharp contrast to the assurance given by the authorities. CPI (M) Secretary said that from the very beginning, the family of the victim was alleging Medical Negligence (MN) on the part of the doctor(s) and staff who attended the patient and administered an injection to her. CPI (M) is of the view that prima facie, the circumstances which led to the sudden death of the patient show that there is some medical negligence on examining the patient and prescribing the medicine (injection) and/or administering the injection. CPI (M) Secretary stated in his letter that perturbed over this unclear situation and lack of proper response from the authorities concerned, the family members and members of Telugu fishermen community have been forced to agitate, seeking justice for the victim.
CPI (M) urged the Lt Governor to resolve the issue through discussion involving the members of the victim family and representatives of the Telugu Fishermen community who are spearheading the present agitation. Ayyappan suggested that an expert committee comprising of doctors from GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair, INHS Dhanvantari, Port Blair and from a medical college on the mainland may be constituted to examine the Post Mortem Examination Report of the victim, the circumstances which led to the sudden death of the patient immediately after administering the injection and come to the correct conclusion of the cause of death. CPI (M) also demanded that such a report may be obtained within a reasonable period of time and publish the same in the public domain besides imposing exemplary punishment on the erring doctor(s) and staff. CPI (M) further demanded that a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs may be given to the victim family considering the fact that the victim has left behind a 1 ½ year old child.
