The Assam Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has tightened rules governing Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s convoy movement. The fresh instructions prohibit any obstruction to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
The directive follows an incident in Silchar on September 30. An ambulance carrying a critically ill patient was stopped to allow the Chief Minister’s convoy to pass.
The CMO reiterated the instructions to all district commissioners and senior superintendents of police on October 1. It also ordered officials to minimise public inconvenience during VIP movement.
Ambulances Must Get Unhindered Passage
The CMO stressed that ambulances, fire tenders and police response vehicles must receive uninterrupted passage.
Traffic arrangements during VIP movement must not cause delays to emergency vehicles. Officials may pause the Chief Minister’s convoy whenever necessary to allow them to pass.
The directive stated that emergency services must receive priority irrespective of convoy movement.
It also warned that officers responsible for traffic arrangements must personally monitor compliance. Authorities will hold officials accountable for any lapse.
CM Convoy to Be Restricted to Minimum Vehicles
The new instructions direct authorities to restrict the Chief Minister’s convoy to the minimum number of vehicles required for security and essential operations.
Ministers, MLAs, officials and other dignitaries attending the same programmes must not join or travel alongside the Chief Minister’s convoy.
Their vehicles must either reach the destination beforehand or proceed separately after the convoy passes.
Security, escort and pilot vehicles attached to accompanying dignitaries must also remain separate. Local administration and police will regulate their movement independently.
The CMO said authorities must treat these instructions as standing directions. It warned that officials would view any deviation seriously.
Four Police Personnel Suspended After Silchar Incident
The fresh guidelines followed the stoppage of an ambulance at the Ramnagar ISBT point in Silchar.
The ambulance was transporting Rasuraj Chakraborty, a resident of Bangar in Sribhumi district. He was suffering from a liver-related ailment and was being taken to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment.
Chakraborty died at the hospital on the morning of October 1.
Following the incident, Cachar Senior Superintendent of Police Partha Protim Das suspended four police personnel for alleged negligence of duty.
The incident prompted renewed instructions on VIP convoy management.
Himanta Biswa Sarma Apologises
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma apologised to the patient and his family after the ambulance was stopped.
He described the incident as unacceptable and said no Chief Minister’s passage should take precedence over a life requiring urgent medical care.
Sarma also ordered an inquiry and directed officials to take firm action against those responsible.
He said instructions against disrupting ordinary citizens during VIP movement had already been issued. Their failure to implement those directions, he said, was deeply troubling.
CMO Emphasises Public Convenience
The CMO further directed authorities to ensure that convoy arrangements do not unnecessarily disrupt routine traffic.
Officials must plan traffic regulation in a way that protects emergency access while reducing inconvenience to ordinary commuters.
The instructions apply to district commissioners, senior police officials and subordinate officers responsible for convoy arrangements.
The revised directions seek to ensure that security arrangements do not prevent emergency vehicles from reaching hospitals or responding to urgent situations.
The Assam government has warned that any violation will invite serious scrutiny and accountability.