Even a charitable mission was not spared when criminals wearing olive fatigues; one armed with a weapon and the other a dao, ransacked the Holy Redeemer Centre in Chumukedima at around midnight Thursday and reportedly abducted two Auxilliary Nurse Midwife (ANM)assistants, both of who were believed to have been raped.
According to sources, the incident took place at around 12.30 a.m. when the two miscreants had asked the chowkidar to open the gate and later knocked on the door of the hospital.One of them told the female medical attendant that that immediate medical attention was needed as some of them were injured in a clash.
Not suspecting their evil plan, the attendant opened the door and once inside, the miscreants struck terror by intimidating inmates and ransacking the office. Not finding any cash the miscreants ordered the terrified inmates to take both of them to the convent at gun point.
On reaching the convent, the criminals used the same ploy about needing immediate medical assistance. After the door opened, they pushed in one of the sisters of the convent inside and locked the door.
They then began ransacking all the rooms in search of cash but finding none, the duo took seven occupants back to health centre and locked five and took away the two ANMs away.
The two abducted female ANMs were released after around thirty minutes and returned shocked and in tears. Sources said the victims’ clothes were also torn.
Police were informed of the incident a few hours later and arrived at the scene around 3 a.m. However, there was no lead and neither any arrest made.
Sources also said no medical examination was conducted on the two victims. It was also reported that such incidents were had taken place in and around the locality. Earlier, some twenty days back some three miscreants tried to commit crime at a place but failed to intrude.
There were also reports of the same miscreants entered one house near St. Joseph’s school and stole one chicken.
Condemnations
Meanwhile, the Holy Redeemer Health Centre (HRHC) Chumukedima, a wing of Health Ministry of the Diocese of Kohima (Catholic Church, Nagaland) has expressed “deep shock” over the incident that took place within its premises.
Spokes Person, Diocese of Kohima, Fr. R. R. Graviour Augustine through a statement requested all concerned citizens in and around Chumukedima to help the authorities in nabbing the culprits and ensure that such incident did not occur again.
The statement further said that Right Reverend Jose Mukala, the Bishop of Kohima also expressed surprise over the incident.
Meanwhile, it regretted to inform that the HRHC would remain closed until further notice.
The Chumukedima Town Council (CTC) has also condemned the incident where two “unknown armed assailants” on the pretext of searching a patient locked the doctor, nurses and staff on duty in a room and decamped with cash amounting to Rs. 600 to 700 from the Hospital’s pharmacy alongwith a mobile hand set.
A press statement issued by CTC chairperson, Neichu-u Kuotsu said that the public in Chumukedima and its adjoining areas were undergoing untold suffering due to the shutting down of the hospital services which was protesting the “barbaric act” against its staff.
The CTC has requested the authorities of HRHC to continue extending its noble services in the interest of the public.