ASHA worker held under PCPNDT Act

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 12

In a decoy operation, a Health Department team has arrested an ASHA worker for allegedly luring a pregnant women to get a prenatal sex determination test conducted. Kiran was arrested from the Hospital Chowk here, even as another tout Vikrammanaged to flee.

The department has started an investigation to determine the involvement of the hospital. The ultrasound centre has been sealed.

Dr Yogesh Sharma, Civil Surgeon, said they received a tip-off that an ASHA worker along with a tout were luring pregnant women to get the gender of their foetus determined. The health authorities constituted a team led by Deputy Civil Surgeon and Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) Nodal Officer Dr Naresh Kardwal.

They got a decoy ready for this raid and the deal was finalised for Rs 25,000. Vikram gave Rs 8,000 to Kiran, which has been recovered by the team members.

Dr Sharma said Kiran had assured the decoy that she would get the sex of the foetus conducted and took her to a hospital. The team members nabbed Kiran red-handed with the money. “We are investigating the role of the hospital too,” he added.

An FIR has been registered under the PCPNDT Act and various sections of the IPC at the Civil Lines Police Station.

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