Hospital was allegedly carrying out illegal abortions
11 skulls and 54 bones, allegedly of foetuses, have been found at a hospital in Maharashtra's Wardha district. Police suspected that the hospital was allegedly carrying out illegal abortions.
Police have arrested a doctor and a nurse working with the hospital. The bones and skulls have been sent to a forensic lab for detailed examination and the report is still awaited.
The matter came into notice as police were investigating a case in which a minor boy allegedly impregnated a 13-year-old girl he was in a relationship with.
According to a police officer, the boy's parents had allegedly threatened the girl's family that they would defame them if she did not abort the child. Boy's family paid for the procedure allegedly carried out at the Wardha hospital.
On January 9, A doctor at the hospital and a nurse were arrested after a police complaint was registered. Police have also arrested the boy's parents.
A police officer said, The accused have been arrested under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to police, the doctor had not informed authorities about performing an abortion on a girl age under 18.
As part of the investigation, police searched the hospital premises and found the skulls and bones at a biogas plant in the campus. Visuals from the spot show police officers inspecting the spot where the bones were recovered.
According to news agency PTI, Wardha police superintendent Prashant Holkar has said that accused doctor's parents-in-law are physicians who have a license to perform abortions.
A probe is now underway to find if the bones and skulls recovered from the hospital were disposed of legally or illegally, he said. The arrested doctor has not yet produced any document in this regard, the police commissioner said.
A hoarding outside the hospital says it specialises in maternity care and also has X-ray and sonography facilities.
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