Tragic Sterilisation: Probe begins, Women register protests

The one-member judicial commission set up by the Chhattisgarh government to look into the tragic sterilisation camp started its probe.

Retired District and Session Judge Anita Jha, the sole member of the panel, visited the site of the sterilisation camp in Pendari village. Bilaspur Division Commissioner Sonmani Borah and Collector Siddharth Komal Pardesi also accompanied Jha to Nemichand Jain Cancer and Research Centre where the surgeries were conducted.

Officials said Jha examined the condition of the building and the operation theatre. Laparoscopy surgeon Dr R K Gupta who performed the surgeries has been dismissed and arrested. Eighty-three women were sterilised in three-and-half hours by Gupta on November.

The commission will zero in on the person/persons who would be held responsible for the tragedy. Within three months, the panel will find out about the quality of medicines used at the camp. It will suggest ways and means to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, IMA's state unit president Prabhat Shrivastav has threatened to launch an agitation from November 20 if surgeon Gupta is not released.

Shrivastav said that the Raman Singh government suspended doctors without thoroughly probing the matter.

A large number of women protested in Raipur against the tragedy which killed 13 women. They also demanded the resignation of Health Minister Amar Agrawal.

Source: Medindia