Imphal, October 10: With violence of varied nature having become routine event in this State it would sound ridiculous to read that the premier Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) do not have a single officially appointed dissector in its mortuary that had so far completed slitting and examinations of 6341 corpses.

there is no stoppage to almost everyday piling of bodies in this violence ravaged part of the country but the North East Council (NEC) administered RIMS is yet to officially appoint a dissector under the Forensic Medicine Department which is undoubtedly one of the busiest section of the institute.

It may be reminded that present day RIMS was originally established as Regional Medical College (RMC) in 1972 and as per data gathered by the press with 1991 as the cut-off year till 2005, the morgue had bodies almost everyday with a high of 458 corpses going under the knife in 2001 while the record low of 286 bodies in 1992 is yet to be erased till date.

Number of corpses brought to the morgue till today evening of the current year is said to have already reached 317.having well crossed the 6000 mark of post mortems in its 34 years of existence it is even more beguiling to learn that morgue caretakers (chowkidars) and sweepers are being utilised to split up the bodies rather than employ a dissector as is considered appropriate.

Currently the Forensic Medicine Department is utilising two chowkidars and same number of sweepers to dissect bodies with one of the former duo actually enrolled as an assistant.

The irony of the matter is these foursome's multiple duty as chowkidar-sweeper and dissector but nevertheless getting paid for their duties related to the original/official appointments only, said informed source who cast doubt on whether these persons are being taken for a ride while the authorities concerned are smiling their way to undue advantage over monetary entitlements.

It is also learnt that for every body dissected a minimal amount in accounted in official record.Having attended duties of cutting open corpses many of whom include highly decomposed ones and contributing enormously to experts gathering vital information on cause of death, these chowkidars and sweepers have conveyed strong desire to the department authorities for an explanation on their exact job status.

Having discussed the matter within themselves on Sep 25 morning a formal intimation had reportedly been placed before the RIMS Director Prof L Fimate three days later to clarify on it, said press source.

Prof Fimate was himself the head of RIMS' Forensic Medicine Department.

Among others the intimation is said to contain the quartet's detail on their prolong service but still unclear service status and appeal for payment of entitlements liable to dissector/s, with an ultimatum that they would abstain from dissecting bodies in case their proposals go unheeded within October 15.

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