Sex determination racket unearthed, woman doc held

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 20

The Kaithal Health Department claims to have busted an inter-state illegal sex-determination and abortion racket, which was active in Patiala, on Wednesday. 

They have reportedly also nabbed a woman doctor in this connection. Officials of the department, with the help of Patiala health officials, conducted a raid at ‘Wadi’s Hospital’ in Bahadurgarh, a town near Patiala. Officials found that the sex-determination test being carried put at the hospital, in violation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PNDT) and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

Two weeks ago, a decoy operation was done after Kaithal Deputy Civil Surgeon Neelam Kakar had received tip-offs of illegal sex determination at the hospital. 

During the raid, the department seized an ultrasound jelly, MTP drugs, a laptop, fetus doppler, and Rs 15,000.  Drug Inspectors Rohit Kalra and Amandeep Verma of Patiala Health Department also seized some pregnancy-termination medicines. 

Having received multiple complaints against the centre, the department had sent an expectant mother, as a decoy patient, to the centre with Rs 15,000 to get the sex of her unborn child determined, following which, doctor Karamjit Kaur was caught red-handed.  

A senior official of the Kaithal Health Department, Narendra Raj Rana said: “We carried out the raids based on complaints by some patients. We have seized several objectionable material from the hospital. It is sad that such activities were being carried out in the Chief Minister’s hometown. It is also a failure of the Patiala District Administration.”

Preliminary investigation has revealed that accused Karamjit Kaur used to bring pregnant women from Haryana for sex-determination tests, and all deals were done over the phone. 

Patiala Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra said: “Stringent action will be taken against those who violate the act. Those who encourage and participate in sex determination will also be prosecuted under the Act.”