Imphal, July 28 2010: Following the stepped up series of attacks on the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and its employees in the last few days, security and administrative measures have been taken up by the Government as well as the authorities of the institute, which is under the Union Ministry of Health.

On July 20, suspected rebels abducted a post graduate student of the institute, Kunal Chakravarty from Churachandpur district.

He was, however, rescued unharmed by a combined team of Assam Rifles soldiers and Manipur police commandos on the same day.

Kunal from Tripura along with some Rims students, undergoing internship at a State-run rural health centre in the tribal dominated district was returning to Rims at Imphal in the afternoon when the incident took place.

This was not all.

On July 26, a rebel hurled a hand grenade at a chemist shop inside Rims complex, though the bomb failed to explode.

The attacker was caught by the public after a hot chase before he was taken by the police, but not before he was thrashed black and blue by the infuriated public.

Attacks on RIMS and its employees is not a new development.

In the last few years, the institution has come under frequent militant attacks, while at the same time targeting officials who occupy positions of authority in the institution.

Bomb blasts, a series of them, on the institute, which cannot be recalled with precision and at the private residence of its Medical Superintendent Yambem Mohen are but just some examples of the suffocating atmosphere under which RIMS has to function.

To at least maintain a degree of decorum and provide security, the State Government had opened a security post inside the institute's complex. Taking serious note of Churachandpur incident, where a PG student was abducted, Rims authorities have decided to stop sending its interns to the district.

A decision not to send any interns to Churachandpur district was adopted during a meeting of RIMS officials and Heads of Department.

Churachandpur is home to a number of armed groups.

Instead the interns will be sent either to Bishnupur or Thoubal district, which are not only nearer to Imphal but also relatively more secure.

Following grenade attack at the institute's complex on July 26, a senior police officer said security has been beefed up in and around RIMS.

"The police commandos have intensified their patrol in and around the institute to thwart any unwanted eventualities," he said.

Jawans of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) manning the security post at the institute are also keeping a strict vigil to foil possible penetration of militants into the institution, the police officer said.

Significantly no full-fledged Director of the institute has been appointed since the incumbent, Professor Fimate retired some weeks back.

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