A tense situation has unfolded in Sekmai, Imphal West, after the death of a woman undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). In response, locals have imposed an indefinite blockade along National Highway-2.
The woman, Hijam Ongbi Ibemcha (52) of Sekmai Awang Leikai, had been admitted on Tuesday for surgery on a fractured leg. Family members said the operation was expected to be routine and not life-threatening. However, she was declared dead soon after being taken into the operating theatre, a turn of events that shocked relatives and enraged villagers.
Residents, under a collective protest, have demanded the dismissal of the medical staff involved and the setting up of an independent inquiry to look into the circumstances surrounding her death.
With no word yet from RIMS or the state government, the agitation has moved onto the highway, leaving vehicles stranded on both sides of NH-2. Protesters have made it clear that the blockade will remain until their demands are addressed.
