The Commissionerate Police on Sunday arrested one more person for his alleged links with the pre-natal sex determination racket operating from inside a medical diagnostic centre in Cuttack. So far, a total of five accused have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to sources, the fifth accused, one Manas Ranjan Panda had supplied the ultrasonography machine to the Alfa Healthcare Clinic which was running without registration for the last six months at Kathagola Sahi and determining pre-natal sex.
Speaking to media, Mangalabag police station IIC Amitav Mohapatra said, “The fifth accused in the case, Manas Ranjan Panda has been arrested on charges of providing ultrasound machine to Prasanna Sahoo, the operator of the centre illegally. During
“Manas has been working in the field and supplying medical equipment for the last 10 years. He has admitted that he sold the ultrasound machine to Prasanna at Rs 3.5 lakh,” the IIC informed.
Earlier, the police had arrested the ultrasound machine operators, two brokers. Many people who are believed to be involved in the matter are still at large. A manhunt has been launched to arrest the other accused, Mohapatra informed.
Notably, police on January 17 raided Alfa Healthcare Clinic for allegedly conducting the banned pre-natal sex determination test.
Police said that the diagnostic centre used to charge Rs 5,000 for each test to determine the sex of the foetus. Several equipment and machines used for carrying out the tests were also seized.