JAC calls 48-hour general strike in Thoubal over alleged medical negligence in Samita Devi case

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the death of Maibam Ongbi Samita Devi of Tekcham has announced a 48-hour general strike across Thoubal District, starting from the night of August 3 until the night of August 5. The strike is being called to protest what the JAC alleges as serious medical negligence at Thoubal District Hospital, which led to the death of the pregnant woman and her unborn child.
Speaking to the media at the office of the Standard Library Cum Youth Organisation (SLYO) in Tekcham Mayai Leikai, JAC Convenor Soibam Jemson said the committee had no option but to launch the agitation after repeated appeals and memoranda to the authorities were ignored. He alleged that the hospital staff and doctors on duty refused to treat Samita Devi, resulting in her untimely death during childbirth.
According to the JAC, Samita was denied timely medical attention while undergoing labour, despite signs of a medical emergency. The refusal of the medical team to attend to her, the JAC claims, is well-documented and points to negligence by those responsible. The family asserts that had she received proper care on time, both mother and child could have been saved.
JAC Chairperson Khundongbam Meratombi Leima appealed to all civil society organisations, local clubs, and residents of Thoubal District to support the general strike peacefully. She urged the public to stand in solidarity with the victim’s family and help ensure justice is served. She further warned that failure to address their demands would lead to more intense forms of protest in the future.
The JAC has demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident, the immediate termination of the doctor, nurse, and staff involved, financial compensation for the bereaved family, and an official acknowledgement by the Government of Manipur accepting responsibility for the death of the unborn child.
The protest, according to the JAC, is not just about one family’s loss but about ensuring accountability in the healthcare system and preventing such tragedies from recurring.