Social bodies seek justice for Manpreet

Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, June 25

Various organisations, including the labour union of MANREGA CITU, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha Punjab, sarpanches and panches of several villages in and around Koom Kalan village, gathered at the Civil Hospital to voice their concern and demand justice for the deceased, Manpreet Kaur.

They alleged that Manpreet breathed her last post-delivery due to the negligence of doctors at the Civil Hospitals in Koom Kalan and Ludhiana.

The labour union MANREGA CITU Punjab general secretary, Amarnath Koom Kalan, also the convener of the Lok Sangharsh Committee, solely constituted for voicing concern of the family of the deceased, said, “Our aim is to fight for the cause of the deceased and spread a message that such negligence, due to which a patient loses her life, cannot be tolerated. The medical staff cannot afford to be casual in any case.”

Amarnath along with Daljit Kumar Gora, secretary of the labour union, Raghvir Singh Benipal, senior leader of

Jamhoori Kisan Sabha Punjab, Parkash Barmi, district secretary, labour union, former sarpanch Sukhwinder Singh Ratangarh, former block samiti chairman Satpal Singh, former sarpanch Charan Singh, Kisan Sangharash Committee member Sikander Singh and villagers of Koom Kalan gathered at the Civil Hospital in Koom Kalan to protest against the alleged negligence of the staff. They demanded justice for the deceased and her family.

Manpreet, a 30-year-old Dalit woman of Nathu Bheni village developed labour pains on May 25 after which she was immediately brought to the Civil Hospital, Koom Kalan. She delivered a baby, but due to excessive bleeding was referred to the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. The family and unionists alleged that though the hospital had three ambulances, but due to non availability of driver, the patient had to wait for at least two hours.

Again at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana, they were not attended properly and referred to CMC Hospital. Manpreet died on way to CMC Hospital.

Various organisations and the family of Manpreet hold the staff of the Civil Hospitals in Koom Kalan and Ludhiana responsible for her death. They have held several protests against the hospital staff and demanded justice in the case.

The kin of the deceased alleged that fifteen days had passed, but the SMO of the Civil Hospital, Koom Kalan, with whom the complaint was lodged, had not taken any action till date. “We will not rest till we are heard and justice is delivered,” they said.

When contacted, the Koom Kalan Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Dr RP Bhatia, said he had received a complaint from the family of the deceased, but he was on leave. He said, “I have yet to study the entire case. I will forward the complaint as soon as I join my duty.” The SMO also admitted that there was a staff crunch in the hospital.

The plaint

Kin allege that hospital staff’s negligence led to her death after she gave birth to a baby. They say no action was taken even 15 days after a complaint was filed with the SMO, Civil Hospital, Koom Kalan.