Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has apologised to a patient and the patient’s family after an ambulance was stopped in Silchar to make way for his convoy, calling the incident “unacceptable” and ordering an inquiry. The incident took place on Wednesday as Sarma’s convoy was travelling through the city. In a post on X, the chief minister said no Chief Minister’s passage should take precedence over a life requiring urgent medical care. He said his instructions had been clear that VIP movement must not disrupt ordinary citizens, and expressed concern that those directions had not been followed. Sarma also directed officials to identify those responsible and take firm action against them.

The incident has already resulted in disciplinary action against four Assam Police personnel who were deployed for traffic management along the convoy route. According to officials, the personnel were suspended after the ambulance was stopped to allow the Chief Minister’s convoy to pass. The suspended personnel include two sub-inspectors and two lance naik-rank personnel, according to an official order cited by local reports. They have been directed to report to the police reserve, attend daily roll call and remain at headquarters unless permitted to leave. The suspensions were announced as authorities began examining how the ambulance was stopped despite the Chief Minister’s stated instructions regarding VIP movement.

The Cachar district administration has also initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation is expected to examine the traffic arrangements made for the convoy, the decision to halt the ambulance and whether established instructions governing emergency vehicles were followed. The Chief Minister’s Office has separately directed district commissioners and senior police officials to ensure that public movement is not unnecessarily disrupted because of his convoy. Sarma said that the instructions governing the movement of his convoy would be enforced “in letter and spirit” and warned that officials found violating them would face strict consequences.

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The episode occurred while Sarma was in Silchar in connection with political activity ahead of the October 3 Silchar Municipal Corporation elections. Reports said his convoy was travelling from the Sitaram Kachari point towards the Barak Valley Secretariat area when traffic arrangements were put in place. The ambulance was stopped along the route as the convoy passed. The circumstances have since drawn attention to the balance between security and traffic arrangements for VIP movements and the need to keep emergency medical vehicles moving. The Chief Minister’s response has focused on ensuring that his security arrangements do not result in delays for members of the public requiring urgent services.

Sarma’s statement also sought to make clear that he did not consider the incident consistent with his instructions to officials. “My directions that VIP movement must not disrupt ordinary citizens have been clear. That they were not implemented is deeply troubling,” he said. He directed officials to constitute an inquiry and take action against those found responsible. The suspension of the four police personnel represents the first disciplinary response reported in connection with the incident, while the administrative inquiry is expected to establish the sequence of events and determine whether further action is required. The authorities have not indicated that the Chief Minister himself was involved in the decision to stop the ambulance.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of convoy-management practices, particularly when emergency vehicles require passage. Sarma said the episode should serve as a warning to officials responsible for implementing convoy protocols and reiterated that no VIP movement should interfere with urgent medical care. The inquiry will now examine the conduct of personnel deployed along the route and the circumstances that led to the ambulance being stopped. With four police personnel already suspended and the district administration seeking a report, further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

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