Four police personnel in Assam have been suspended after an ambulance carrying a patient was stopped to allow Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's convoy to pass in Silchar. Sarma has apologised to the patient and their family over the incident.

The four personnel were suspended with immediate effect pending a departmental inquiry into alleged negligence during traffic duty for the chief minister's convoy on September 30.

Those suspended are SI Bijoy Goswami of Srikona Police Post under Silchar Police Station, SI Sibsankar Das of N.H. Way Police Post under Silchar Police Station, LNK (UB) 476 Jahurul Islam of Katigorah Police Station and LNK (UB) 976 Kawsar Ahmed of the Traffic Branch, Silchar.

An inquiry led by an Additional District Commissioner has also been ordered to investigate the incident and fix accountability.

The action follows the stoppage of an ambulance while Sarma's convoy was being given passage. The incident prompted the chief minister to apologise publicly to the patient and their family.

“Today in Silchar, an ambulance was halted to make way for my convoy. This is unacceptable, and I apologise to the patient and their family,” Sarma said in a post on X.

Sarma said a chief minister's convoy should never take precedence over a life requiring urgent medical care. He also said he had issued clear directions that VIP movement should not disrupt ordinary citizens and ordered officials to examine why those instructions were not followed.

The suspended personnel have been directed to report to Police Reserve, Silchar, and deposit their government kits. They must also attend daily roll call and cannot leave headquarters without proper permission during the suspension period.

According to the suspension order, they will receive substantive allowances as per applicable rules during the period of suspension. The order will remain in force until further directions.

The incident occurred while Sarma was in Silchar to campaign for the October 3 municipal polls in the Barak Valley city.

With PTI inputs