An ASHA worker was allegedly assaulted physically by a rangbah shnong in Ri Bhoi district for exposing corruption in Ingsaw village.
Volenda Nongpoh, a health worker at the Mawhati PHC was manhandled by the rangbah shnong of the village, Jebest Suphai and his sister Phiarly Suphai on December 25.
Addressing a press conference here today, the ASHA worker said she was physically assaulted near the locality tap located at Pdeng Shnong Ingsaw.
“The Rangbah Shnong punched me on my head that knocked me down to the ground and they strangled me by my neck and also stomped my back. His sister also joined him and beat me till I was unconscious,” Nongpoh alleged. She said that when she gained consciousness her husband was with her while the rangbah shnong who was still there threatened that he will not spare her.
Nongpoh who has lodged an FIR on the same day at Umsohlait, Outpost would also move the State Women’s Commission.
“My medical report from Umsning CHC is still with the police but I have all the medical slips that were given to me,” she said.
The ASHA claimed that the rangbah shong resented her for exposing the misuse of funds meant for various schemes in the area.
Accusing the rangbah shnong who is also the chairman of the VEC of misusing schemes like the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan’ (NBA) scheme and also forging signatures of people in the beneficiary list, she said, “Suphai also manipulated the water supply schemes, job cards, etc, to suit his personal interest and those close to him.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the Meghalaya ASHA workers Union while condemning the act has urged the state government to enforce acts that protect the ASHA workers who have always been the victim of suppression, in the society despite their untiring effort to help everyone.
Besides president of the HNYF Women’s Wing Betty Jyrwa has demanded an inquiry into the matter and to arrest the offender and asked the Syiem to remove Jebest Suphai from his position.
