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A year ago, Astaranga police in Puri district failed to act on a complaint regarding the death of a 6-year-old girl due to a wrong injection. But, following Orissa High Court's directives, it has now registered a case against 37 people including two doctors and a pharmacist.
Notably, the incident took place in October 2022, at Patasundar village under police limits. Rashmita, the six-year-old daughter of Sukant Senapati, was down with fever. Manoj Dalei, a pharmacist, of the same village, administered an injection, following which the girl fell unconscious. Manoj immediately rushed her to Astaranga hospital where Dr Muzafar Khan administered two injections to the girl. Hours later, Dr Khan referred her to Charichhak Community Health Centre where Dr Pritam Paritosh Patra declared the girl dead on arrival. At that time, Sukant had to rush back to his village leaving behind the body at the hospital after getting information that his wife was seriously ailing.
Then, the authorities of Charichhak CHC handed over the body to Sukant’s brother and pharmacist Manoj, without conducting a post-mortem. The family alleged that the death was due to wrong injection given by Manoj and the doctors.
Later, Manoj promised compensation to the bereaved family for the death and hurriedly arranged the last rites of the body with the help of the bereaved family’s kin and some villagers.
As for the case, Sukant, lamented, “I seek justice for my daughter who was the victim of wrong injection by doctors. Sadly, her body was also cremated without my consent and post-mortem. I had filed an FIR against 37 people including two doctors and the pharmacist. But the police remained insensitive to the death of my daughter and did nothing.”
He had then moved the High Court against the alleged police inaction a few months ago, seeking direction from the police to register a case on his complaint.
As for the issue, Dillip Samantray, a High Court lawyer, said, “Alleging that wrong injections had claimed life of his daughter, Sukant had filed a complaint at the Astaranga police station against 37 people on October 17, 2022, but police did not take action. Later, he sent a complaint through a registered post on April 10, 2023, to the Puri SP. But then also no action was taken. Upset, he finally moved the HC in 2023 (case-905/2023), seeking a direction for the Astaranga police to register a case on his complaint. Hearing the case, the HC issued an order on September 22, 2023, directing the IIC to register a case.”
The HC lawyer also confirmed that the police have registered a case on the complaint.
On the other hand, demanding action against the accused, family members of the deceased girl alleged that they are getting threats from the villagers for filing complaint against them.
Report by Sanjay Pati
