Illegal abortion centre unearthed in Panchkula

A district Health Department team unearthed an illegal abortion centre at Saketri village.

In a complaint to the Health Department, a man stated that he and his wife had approached Tushar Saha, who was allegedly running the illegal clinic, seeking an abortion. He provided a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kit. Following its use, the woman’s condition severely deteriorated. She was rushed to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, and later referred to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, where she underwent life-saving surgery —laparotomy and hysterectomy. Following a complaint, a team of the Health Department conducted a raid at “Bengali Clinic” being run by the unqualified practitioner. During a search, the team found a large stock of illegally stored allopathic medicines.

On interrogation, Saha confessed to have provided the couple an MTP kit. When asked, he failed to produce any recognised medical degree or a valid licence for conducting medical termination of pregnancy. He was only able to show a certificate issued by an ayurvedic practitioners’ association, which did not authorise him to perform such medical procedures.

His involvement was found to be in violation of Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the MTP Act, Sections 318 and 120(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 34 of the National Medical Commission Act.

The Health Department has written to the MDC police station, Panchkula, to register a case and initiate legal proceedings against Saha.