B N Singh Pappan
Saharsa : Saharsa Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Ashok Kumar Singh on April 5, 2017, constituted a medical team to inquire into the death of a pregnant woman Annu Bharti, wife of Ramphal Tola, Saharsa, resident, Manoj Das, at the clinic of a quack in the morning the same day. The foetus also died. The CS said that although he had not yet received a formal complaint in this regard yet on the basis of information received, he had asked a medical team to inquire into the incident and submit its report by April 6 evening. Appropriate action would be taken on the basis of the report, Dr Singh said.
Annu Bharti, wife of a labourer Manoj Das, died while being operated by the quack on April 5 morning. Manoj Das and other residents of Ramphal Tola surrounded the clinic and raised an uproar over the death of Annu and her child. In the meantime, the quack picked up the body and carried it to her home after locking up his clinic. He is absconding. After getting information, Sadar Police station, Saharsa, team visited Ramphal Tola twice but did take any action. SHO, Sadar police station, Bhai Bharat, said police would act only after getting a formal complaint.
Manoj said his pregnant wife Annu developed labour pain on April 4 night. He took her to medicine shop of Dr Yogendra Thakur located in Ramphal colony. Dr Thakur took her inside to examine her. Manoj said that Dr Thakur later told him that the condition of the child is not good hence his wife would have to be admitted at the clinic and demanded Rs 24,000 for her treatment. Dr Thakur asked him to immediately deposit Rs 5,000. Manoj deposited Rs 4,500.
After sometime, Dr Thakur came out and told him that condition of Annu was not good and she had to be taken to another place for treatment. When Manoj went inside the clinic to see his wife, he found her dead. Annu is survived by two daughters. The locals informed SDPO Subodh Kumar Biswas and Sadar SDO Saurabh Jorwal about the incident. But, police was yet to initiate action.