M A I N   N E W S

Bones of infant found in another well
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Patran (Patiala), August 11
Around 100 bones, which seem to be of a three-month-old child, clothes and other material, used in carrying out an abortion, have been recovered from a second well in front of Sahib Hospital here.

A team of the District Health Department was present at the well when the excavation started today. The digging at the well was carried out till 36 feet, said Mr Munish Kumar, SDM, Patran, who coordinated the digging operation. He said Sahib Hospital, where illegal abortions had allegedly been done, had been barricaded.

Dr V.S. Mohi, Civil Surgeon, Patiala, said the recovery of the bones and material from the well indicated that it was being used as a dumping ground for foetuses by the quack couple.

Ms Pooja, an employee of the hospital, being run by Pritam Singh and his wife Amarjit Kaur, had reported their illegal activities to the authorities concerned.

A section of local residents raised slogans against the couple while the digging was going on. They demanded that stern action should be taken against the accused.

Dr Mohi said all bones would be sent for forensic examination to verify the fact that whether those were human bones or not.

The forensic report of the remains of foetuses and placentas, which were recovered from the first well, was expected within three days, added Dr Mohi.

He had directed all senior medical officers to carry out intensive checking in their respective areas to find out whether any unauthorised nursing home had been functioning there.

The health authorities raided two local hospitals today. While a doctor, who was manning Patiala Nursing Home, was found deliberately absent from his hospital, the functioning of Sandhu Hospital was found as per norms. The authorities concerned had been asked to seal Patiala Nursing Home.

Meanwhile, Dr S.S. Bhuller, president, Indian Medical Association, Patiala, said the IMA had demanded a CBI probe in the episode. It had also demanded that all unauthorised hospitals and nursing homes, running under the patronage of influential persons, should be closed. The number of abortion cases being done by untrained midwives was on the rise in the district, he added.

Mr Harbhajan Singh, DSP, Patran, said the case registered against the quack couple was being investigated with utmost care.