‘Nothing to say in defence’: Mizoram CM issues apology after daughter assaults doctor

In a viral video, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga’s daughter was seen hitting an Aizawl-based dermatologist when the latter refused her a consultation without a prior appointment.

Zoramthanga’s daughter Milari Chhangte was seen hitting Aizawl-based dermatologist Dr Zonunasanga when the latter refused her a consultation without a prior appointment.

After a video of his daughter assaulting a doctor at an Aizawl clinic went viral on social media, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Saturday issued a public apology, saying that the family was “wholly in the wrong”.

In the purported video clip, Zoramthanga’s daughter Milari Chhangte was seen hitting Aizawl-based dermatologist Dr Zonunasanga when the latter refused her a consultation without a prior appointment. Zonundermacare, run by Dr Zonunasanga, is one of the most popular private skin clinics in the state’s capital.

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A post shared by Zoramthanga (@zoramthangaofficial)

A statement written in Mizo on the chief minister’s official Instagram account, said: “We Milari Chhangte’s family and parents have absolutely nothing to say in defence of her behaviour towards the doctor. We are wholly in the wrong and apologise to the doctor and the public.”

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It added that the chief minister and his wife had visited the doctor three times to apologise. “The doctor and his family were very kind and understanding to the point that it was embarrassing for us. We think they are very mature and we really appreciate them,” Zoramthanga said in the statement.

On Saturday, around 700 doctors of the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Mizoram branch protested against the incident and wore black badges to their workplaces. “Even if more stringent action was taken (by the IMA), it would not have been out of line and wholly warranted. However, they have taken only this step and have been mature, and we really respect the maturity they have shown. We also want to say that we will do whatever we can so that something like this does not happen again,” Zoramthanga said.

The incident, which took place on Wednesday, led to outrage on social media. Chhangte’s elder brother Ramthansiama also apologised on social media, saying that his sister was “out of control” and acted out of “mental stress.”

Milari Chhangte the Eklauti Daughter of Mizoram CM @ZoramthangaCM assaulted an Aizawl-based dermatologist fr the reason that he nt attended her before other patients. Needless to add that Police nt lodged any complain.
Men are just saying #WeCantBreathe ? #GodFather #PapaKiPari pic.twitter.com/cJYZT0Kwlz

— NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) August 21, 2022

The Indian Express reached out to Dr Zonunasanga but he was unavailable for comment.

A member of IMA Mizoram, who did not wish to be named, told The Indian Express that the dermatologist was “initially taken aback” by the incident, but has now accepted the chief minister’s “heartfelt apology”. “He understands that sometimes patients act out… he is not taking any calls from the media because it has suddenly become such a high-profile case,” said the member.

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He added that it was probably the first time such an incident had happened in Mizoram. “Unfortunately, it involved the CM’s daughter,” he said, adding: “We do not have anything against her or the CM, we are protesting violence against doctors… We would have protested in solidarity regardless of who the assaulter was.”

The IMA member said that the chief minister handled the issue in a very “mature manner”. “It was a heartfelt personal statement… We really appreciate how he handled the whole thing. So we have decided to forgive and forget,” he said.