Laika-Dodhia stir: Pregnant woman dies at AMCH

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GUWAHATI:

In a setback to the 19-day long agitation of Laika and Dodhia Rehabilitation Committee, a pregnant woman protester who was admitted to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in critical condition three days back, passed away on Friday.

Kusmita Morang (24) from Dodhia village, who was camping with the protesters, was taken to AMCH in Dibrugarh from Tinsukia Civil Hospital when she fell in an “unconscious state” last Tuesday.

“She was admitted to the intensive care unit and has been administered oxygen since her admission in the hospital. But doctors at AMCH declared her dead at 2 am today. Her baby had earlier died in her womb,” Apio Taid, a member of Laika and Dodhia Rehabilitation Committee stated.

Morang is the second casualty after another woman at the camp, Rebati Pao (55), passed away last month.

The committee has slammed the “indifference” of the Tinsukia district administration, alleging that facilities like drinking water and basic healthcare have not been provided at the makeshift camp where protesters have taken refuge since the past 19 days now in temperatures as low as 10 degrees Celsius.

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“A middle-aged woman, Indira Mili, had to be rushed to Tinsukia Civil Hospital yesterday after she fell ill and was bleeding from her nose. To make matters worse, at least four to five other women camping at the protest site are indisposed. Yet, the district authorities are looking the other way, indifferent to our pleas for minimum facilities at the protest camp,” Taid said.

The committee, supported by three leading Mising organisations, is spearheading the agitation for the rehabilitation of over 1,400 families of Laika and Dodhia, two villages under Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Upper Assam.

The Assam government had on December 30, 2020, constituted a ten-member committee to find out ways for relocation and rehabilitation of the residents by the end of the month.

“But we have lost our faith in the government. Over the past three years, the government has made assurances for our relocation in two forest areas, but to no avail,” he said.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

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