Nayagarh: A private clinic in Nayagarh town was raided late Wednesday night for allegedly conducting illegal abortion of an expectant mother during her fourth month of pregnancy.
Police have arrested five persons in this connection.
Acting on a tip-off and subsequent directives of the District Collector Poma Tudu, a team comprising health officials, local tehsildar and police raided Anand Bhawan Aditya Hospital and Clinic.
According to an official, the pregnant woman was from Bahadajhola locality. She was earlier admitted to Nayagarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) located in close vicinity of the private clinic.
During ultrasonography conducted at another private clinic, the woman’s family learnt that the fetus was suffering from rare Scalidal Displaci disease and might be a dwarf if born.
Upset with this, the family was desperate to abort the fetus.
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A middleman negotiated with Aditya Hospital and Clinic authorities and the pregnant woman’s family to facilitate the illegal abortion. Later, a deal of Rs 13,000 was finalised for the purpose.
Town police arrested owner of the clinic Satyapriya Swain, middleman Rajkishore Sahu, female nurses Babita Rout and Sangita Mohanty, including husband of the pregnant woman Ganesh Pradhan.
Police have registered a case in this connection under Section 5 of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and launched a probe. Aditya Hospital and Clinic was sealed following raid.
PNN