From Our Correspondent
TURA: Acting on a tip-off, the District Administration recently conducted a raid on Xone Laboratory located at Der Mile, around 40 meters away from the Tura Civil Hospital and sealed it for allegedly running an abortion racket.
Though no arrests were made till the filing of this report, statements of those involved in the racket has been taken even as the case report for the same has been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi said they had been receiving complaints from certain quarters that the laboratory was being used for carrying out illegal abortions.
The DC revealed that the doctor involved in the racket, Dr K A Sangma, is licensed to perform MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) but the laboratory is not a licensed or certified MTP clinic.
Initial investigations revealed that Dr Sangma was being assisted by a sweeper or a cleaner during the abortions and the foetuses were improperly disposed.
“The sweeper or cleaner is said to have disposed the foetuses into streams or other places in an unhygienic manner thus making it a public hazard,” the DC said while adding that the people involved in the racket could be booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.
According to sources, the Xone Laboratory is not officially run by any doctor. However, one lady doctor along with few other prominent doctors are said to be involved in the racket.
The owner of the laboratory is allegedly running a chain of abortion rackets in
Tura including one near the Maternity and Child Hospital at Brahminpara where residents even claimed to have seen dogs eating aborted foetus wrapped in plastic bags.
Sources also informed that the Xone Lab remains closed throughout the day and had a handful of patients. Some of its clients were taken to the residence of a retired nurse in Tura.
