Imphal, March 11, 2010: At least 12 employees of the JN Hospital were arrested by the police today while trying to stage protest defying the prohibition on launching strike by employees of essential services under Manipur Essential Service Maintenance Act, 1984. Following the arrest of the 12 staff of the hospital, some employees thronged the Porompat police station demanding to arrest them all and detain.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister, O Ibobi today warned that stunt action will be taken up to those employees under essential service categories joining in the cease work strike.

Action will be taken up to those striking employees of the JN Hospital who failed to resume their duty by 10 am today.

Among the 12 arrested employees, 10 are women while the rest two were men.

The two men employees were Leishangthem Chandrakumar (50) of Khonghampat Mayai Leikai and Sarangthem Khomdon (50) of Malom Awang Leikai.

The 10 women were Lisham Sorojini (staff nurse) of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai, Adhikarimayum Rajshiree (nurse) of Bamon Leikai, Leiphrakpam Hemabati (laboratory technician) of Nambol Bazar, Angom Pholmani ((laboratory technician) of Naoremthong, Khumanthem Premlalata ((laboratory technician) of Khurai Ahongei, Nemchalam Haokip (ward attendant) presently residing at quarter of the hospital, Nandeibam Chouba (attendant) of Patsoi part-1, Laikhuram Premlata (staff nurse) of Kongba Bazar, Ayang Kom (sweeper) and Nungshi Kabui (sweeper).

Porompat police has registered FIR cases against them under the Manipur Essential Service Maintenance Act.

They would be produced in the appropriate court tomorrow.

Further judicial remand on them will be confirmed after hearing in the court, a police source said.

In the aftermath of the arrest their colleagues, some employees of the thronged the Porompat police station where a chaotic sense erupted at the gate of the station.

After brief heated argument, police allowed the thronging members to enter inside the station complex and later allowed 10 representatives of the JAC to call on with the SP, Imphal East, Th Radheshyam.

On the other hand, superintendent of JN Hospital, Dr S Ibomcha talking to reporters today at his office chamber claimed that around 60 employees have returned to their duty.

They also submitted their duty resumption reports.

OPD and casualty wards of the hospital were opened as usual but turning up of people for check up but said around 200 patients turned up against the average of 400 people coming up in a day, he said.

The employees resumed their duties after an agreement was brought on the merger of the employees of the hospital to the proposed Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, the superintendent expressed.

He also appealed not to disturbed employees resuming their duties by those who wanted to join the cease work strike.

Meanwhile, state Chief Minister, O Ibobi today during the general discussion hour said that government is ready to take up stunt action against those employees of the essential service like electricity, PHED and health if join the cease work strike.

The joining of the non-gazetted employees of the JN Hospital is amidst the hectic effort of the government to set up JNIMS.

Government has given three year times to decide on merger of all employees of the JN Hospital to JNIMS.

To launch cease work strike at this juncture by the employees will not be a right decision, the Chief Minister observed.

Only the MRI machines left to install for starting functioning of JNIMS, Ibobi said expressing that two retired professors including one who obtained voluntary retirement from RIMS will be inducted soon.

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