RIMS closed down to protest threat by militants

Imphal, April 1: The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, remained closed for the second day today in protest against an underground organisation's threat to attack the hospital staff.

The Out Patient Department (OPD) of the RIMS remained closed and the employees of the institute staged a demonstration against the threat issued by the suspected militants.

The casualty operation theatre, however, functioned normally.

The decision to close down the institute was taken at a general body meeting held on March 29, the PRO of RIMS said.

''In the last general body meeting, it was decided that the RIMS would be closed down sine die. But in view of the examinations of the post graduate students and other important meetings in New Delhi, the decision to launch an indefinite ceasework strike is deferred for the time being,'' the PRO added.

''The inconvenience caused to the general public during the two-day strike is sincerely regretted,'' the PRO said.

Meanwhile, the closure of the OPD forced many patients to rush to private hospitals.

UNI