Bir Lachit Sena Alleges Massive Scam in 108 Mrityunjoy Emergency Service

In a scathing press conference held on Thursday, the Bir Lachit Sena's Shrinkhal Chaliha has levelled serious allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and exploitation within the state’s 108 Mrityunjoy emergency ambulance service. The organisation accused senior government officials and private contractors of orchestrating a multi-crore scam at the expense of public health and safety.

According to Bir Lachit Sena, the state government’s flagship emergency service—originally envisioned to provide timely medical assistance—has been handed over to private operators through questionable tenders. The group alleged that these private entities have siphoned off crores of public funds while compromising on service delivery.

Key Allegations: 

• Gross Mismanagement and Staff Shortages:
  Against the sanctioned workforce of 3,900 personnel, the 108 service currently has only around 2,800 staff members in place. This significant shortfall, Chaliha said, has hampered operations statewide.

• Non-functional Ambulances and Equipment Deficiencies:
  Many ambulances, which are supposed to be medically equipped, are reportedly operating without even basic life-saving instruments. “Essential services are running with broken-down vehicles and inadequate gear,” the Chaliha alleged.

• Training Fee Exploitation:
  Aspiring candidates are reportedly charged ₹20,000 for mandatory training to qualify for 108 recruitment, but once employed, they receive a paltry ₹6,000 as a monthly salary.

• Boat Ambulances Lying Idle:
  The organisation's leader revealed that nine boat ambulances introduced to serve riverine and flood-prone areas have become defunct due to a lack of maintenance. However, government records continue to list all of them as operational, allegedly to siphon off maintenance funds.

• Allegations Against GVK EMRI and Political Patronage:
  Chaliha directly named Sanjay Jha, a key figure associated with the operation, accusing him of using duplicate spare parts for vehicle repairs and misappropriating funds. He further claimed that despite being blacklisted previously, GVK EMRI was again handed the 108 contract after two other firms—Pratibha Development Private Limited (PDPL) and Jai Ambey Emergency Services (JAES)—withdrew.

  The group alleged that this handover took place under the political protection of State Health Minister Ashok Singhal, who they claim is the “mastermind” behind the entire scandal. “Because of Singhal, Sanjay Jha continues to remain untouchable,” Chaliha said.

• Safety Concerns for Women Workers:
  Bir Lachit Sena also raised concerns about the working conditions of female staff employed with 108. “Women workers are unsafe. Even during personal emergencies, they are denied leave. The management treats them inhumanely,” said a representative.

• Suppression of Employee Protests:
  The group claimed that workers who have been protesting against these irregularities are being intimidated and silenced by the authorities.

• Ambulance Discrepancy and Financial Drain:
  Out of 803 ambulances listed, only about 400 are currently operational. “Where are the rest? The funds have been misappropriated,” the Sena alleged, questioning the monthly ₹3.75 crore expenditure from the state treasury on 108 services.

• Demand for Chief Minister's Intervention:
  The organisation has demanded immediate intervention by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and called for:

  • The arrest of Sanjay Jha,

  • Blacklisting of GVK EMRI,

  • A judicial probe into Minister Ashok Singhal’s alleged role in the scam, especially to ascertain how much of the public fund is being siphoned off under his watch.

They claimed the scam is causing an annual loss of nearly ₹40 crore to the state exchequer.

On Pankaj Pathak’s Innovation: “Support Our Own”

In a separate statement, Bir Lachit Sena extended support to innovator Pankaj Pathak, who has reportedly developed a hair regrowth solution. The group appealed to the people of Assam to support indigenous efforts.

“Many have used hair growth products from outside companies without any results. If someone from our land is trying to innovate, we should stand by him and encourage him,” the group stated, calling on all ‘khilonjiya’ (indigenous) Assamese people to back Pathak’s endeavour.

On the Cow Protection Debate: Sharp Rebuke to Hypocrisy

Commenting on recent cow protection debates, the Sena launched a sharp attack on what it termed “hypocritical activism”:

“Those who chant ‘Gau Mata’ slogans are themselves involved in cattle smuggling. This double standard must be exposed,” said a spokesperson.

The press conference ended with a call for urgent public scrutiny and immediate government action to restore faith in the 108 Mrityunjoy service, which, the Sena said, has become a symbol of corruption rather than compassion.

Also Read: KMSS Slams Shrinkhal Chaliha, Labels Him a "Government’s Pet Tiger"