Minister Whose Convoy Stopped an Ambulance Leading to the Death of a Patient Breaks Silence

Public anger is mounting in Assam after an ambulance carrying a critically ill man was held up on the road so that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s motorcade could go through.

The patient, Rasuraj Chakraborty, was being transported in a 108 ambulance to Silchar Medical College and Hospital after his liver-related condition reportedly worsened.

Police officers controlling traffic for the convoy stopped the vehicle along the way. Chakraborty was confirmed dead when he reached the hospital.

A video of the ambulance being halted spread quickly on social media and drew sharp criticism from residents across the state.

In response, authorities suspended four police officers who were linked to the traffic arrangements.

Sarma later acknowledged the uproar and apologised.

He said ambulances, other emergency services and ordinary members of the public should never be inconvenienced because of his movements or those of any other minister.

The chief minister, however, insisted that the short stoppage did not cause Chakraborty’s death, pointing to the patient’s critical liver ailment.

He also said he does not like travelling in a convoy, adding that deputy commissioners and police officers organise the motorcade.

Calling himself a “chief servant,” Sarma declared that VIP culture has no place in the “new Assam.”

His office has since instructed district commissioners and senior police officers to make sure the public is not inconvenienced by his movements.

The directive states that ambulances, fire tenders and other emergency vehicles must not be blocked to make way for VIP convoys.

Even so, the incident has reopened debate over how VIP travel is handled and why emergency vehicles should always get priority on the road.

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