Guwahati/Silchar, Sept 30: In a swift administrative response, four police personnel have been suspended after an ambulance carrying a patient was stopped to clear the path for Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s convoy in Silchar on Wednesday.

The incident, which occurred near Ramnagar ISBT in Silchar, prompted an immediate and strongly worded reaction from the Chief Minister himself. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sarma publicly apologised to the patient and the family, stating: “Today in Silchar, an ambulance was halted to make way for my convoy. This is unacceptable, and I apologise to the patient and their family.”

He added that no Chief Minister’s passage should ever take precedence over a life in need of urgent care, and that his clear directions prohibiting VIP movement from disrupting ordinary citizens had not been followed. Sarma directed officials to take firm action against those responsible and ordered an inquiry, warning that the directives on the CM’s convoy would be enforced “in letter and spirit” with strict consequences for any future violations. He tagged the Chief Minister’s Office, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Assam.

Responding promptly to the Chief Minister’s directive, Assam DGP Harmeet Singh, IPS, posted on the official @DGPAssamPolice handle: “Sir, As directed, immediate action has been taken, and the errant officials suspended. Instructions have been reiterated to ensure that such an incident does not recur.”

The suspended personnel have been identified as:

  • SI Bijoy Goswami, Officer-in-Charge, Srikona Police Post under Silchar Police Station
  • SI Sibsankar Das, N.H. Way Police Post under Silchar Police Station
  • LNK (UB)/476 Jahurul Islam, Katigorah Police Station
  • LNK (UB)/976 Kawsar Ahmed Barbhuiya, Traffic Branch, Silchar

Reports indicate that the ambulance was temporarily stopped while police managed traffic for the Chief Minister’s convoy. A video of the incident reportedly circulated, showing the emergency vehicle waiting as the convoy passed.

The Chief Minister’s Office has also confirmed the suspensions and the institution of an Additional District Commissioner-led inquiry to fix further accountability. The episode has drawn attention to the long-standing issue of VIP convoy protocols versus the priority of emergency medical services across the country.