Even ambulances not spared, drivers assaulted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 18 2026: Close on the heels of the killing of three protesters by CRPF jawans at Tronglaobi, Bishnupur district on April 7, 2026, three ambulance drivers were allegedly subjected to brutal physical assault by CRPF and RAF personnel at Khurai Lamlong on April 17, 2026 .

The injured ambulance drivers have been identified as W Bonison and L Premananda of Punshiba Ambulance and M Ojit of Primal Care Health Service.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Punshiba Ambulance driver Wahengbam Bonison (24) said that he received an emergency call last night amid public protest and firing of multiple rounds of tear gas shells by security forces.

Even ambulances not spared, drivers assaulted

Being an emergency call, Bonison rushed toward JNIMS Hospital from Khabeisoi along with another ambulance of Primal Care Health Service.

However, as they reached Khurai Lamlong (opposite SBI branch), some CRPF and RAF personnel halted the ambulances and asked them if any patient was inside.

When the drivers replied that no patient was inside, but one of them was going to pick up a patient while the other was coming back after delivering a patient to a hospital, the CRPF and RAF personnel dragged them down, and started thrashing them mercilessly.

Bonison said that they were thrashed and kicked by the CRPF and RAF personnel.

As he tried to shield his face from the security forces' fibre sticks, Bonison sustained grievous injuries on his hands too.

After reaching JNIMS somwhow, Bonison picked up a patient on ventilator and took the patient to Babina Hospital.

The other ambulance stayed back on the way.

En route to Babina Hospital, Bonison was halted at the same point where he and two fellow ambulance drivers were assaulted.

Even after Bonison told the CRPF and RAF personnel that a critical patient was inside the ambulance, the security forces assaulted him again.

Despite being beaten up again and again by the CRPF and RAF personnel, Bonison somehow took the patient to Babina Hospital.

Pointing out that ambulances are spared even during wars, Bonison decried the act of assaulting ambulance drivers on emergency duty by CRPF and RAF personnel.

Saying that the assault severely undermined the service of ambulance drivers toward humanity, Bonison sought immediate attention of the Government toward the inexplicable act of assaulting ambulance drivers.

Primal Care Health Services founder Devashis Thoudam has appealed to both security forces and protesters not to hinder movement of ambulances.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has vehemently condemned the act of assaulting ambulance drivers on duty and obstruction to movement of ambulances by CRPF and RAF .

A press release issued by COCOMI has also condemned the act of vandalising parked vehicles and CCTV cameras allegedly by Central forces under the cover of darkness at night.

It further condemned the act of assaulting media persons by Central forces who were covering the torch rally from Lilong to Singjamei held on April 16 night.