Leader of the Opposition in Assam, Debabrata Saikia, has written to the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urging an independent inquiry into the death of a newborn at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on August 18. The four‑day‑old infant, admitted to the NICU for treatment of jaundice and infection, was found dead entangled in medical wires. Saikia alleged that overcrowding, staff shortages, and negligence led to the tragedy, terming it a “gross violation of fundamental human rights.”
He requested the AHRC to take suo motu cognisance under Section 21(5) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and demanded a time‑bound probe by an expert panel. The Congress leader also sought accountability from the state government, interim compensation of ₹10 lakh under the Assam Victim Compensation Scheme, 2012, and protection for the grieving parents. Citing repeated lapses in public hospitals, Saikia pressed for urgent reforms, calling the incident a stark reminder of systemic failures in Assam’s healthcare infrastructure.
