Bathinda hospital raided for allegedly carrying out sex determination tests

A private hospital in Bathinda was raided on Friday for allegedly carrying out gender determination tests.

Acting on a tip-off, health officials from Sirsa along with local police raided Indrani Hospital, a multispecialty hospital, located on Bathinda’s Namdev Road.

Bathinda deputy commissioner B Srinivasan said the district authorities are in the process of taking legal action under Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994.

Bathinda deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Aaswant Singh Dhaliwal said,” The local police was duly informed by the Haryana authorities. Bajrang Singh, a registered medical practitioner from Bathinda’s Mati Das Nagar, has been arrested by the Sirsa police.”

An official, on condition of anonymity, said three accused had been detained.

Civil Surgeon and member of the raiding team Dr Rajesh Chaudhary said, “A decoy patient paid Rs 42,000 on the demand of the accused to reveal the foetus’ gender. An ultrasound machine at Indrani Hospital was used for the same.”

At least three people, including the hospital’s security guard, are suspected to be involved. CCTV footage obtained from the hospital also shows the accused and decoy patient entering the ultrasound room for medical examination,” he said.

OWNER DENIES INVOLVEMENT

Dr Atin Gupta, owner of Indrani Hospital, denied his involvement in the crime. He alleged that the accused had forcibly entered the ultrasound room.