The team asked at the reception desk if there had been any case of delivery there. They were told no. They then moved toward the delivery ward and operation theatre.First, they searched the first floor but found nothing. On the second floor, they saw ongoing construction work and three rooms, including one that was closed.
"Why is that room closed?" DSP Chaturbedi asked. Soon, the room was opened, and there was a woman inside. She was seen wrapping a baby with some clothing to hide it.
"Whose baby is that?" he asked. Dil Kumari, who hails from Phatepur, Saptari, answered abruptly, "The baby isn't mine. I haven't given birth to her. The hospital has given me this baby."
Dil Kumari's answer helped verify the information that DSP Chaturbedi had received over the phone. He started to delve further.
According to what Dil Kumari told DSP Chaturbedi, she had been unable to give birth to a child even after three years of marriage and after undergoing several different treatments. Doctors concluded that she could not conceive. So she decided to adopt a child from one of her acquaintances.
And she came to learn that there was a baby available at Lavakush Hospital. When she reached the hospital, doctors handed the baby to her, she told DSP Chaturbedi.
Although she hasn't yet disclosed the amount of money she paid the hospital for the baby, preliminary investigations showed that the hospital has already received the money.
The incident brought to the fore the alleged involvement of Lavakush Hospital in selling babies to childless couples. According to police, the hospital is selling a baby girl for Rs 200,000 to 300,000 and a baby boy for Rs 300,000 to 500,000.
DSP Chaturbedi informed that police are investigating the matter. For this purpose, Dil Kumari as well as Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Shivkumari Chaudhary and Community Medicine Assistant (CNM) Usha Chaudhary were taken into custody on Sunday night itself.
ANM Shikumari disclosed to police that hospital proprietor Birdev Mahato had asked her to find someone looking to purchase a baby.
Child trafficking at hospital
Following the police raid on Saturday, they have confirmed the baby sale at Lavakush Hospital.
The proprietor and the woman giving birth to the baby are absconding, DSP Chaturbedi informed.
He added that necessary action has been initiated under anti-human trafficking law.
After the incident came to light, police have intensified their investigations at hospitals in the district.
Area Police Office (APO) Lahan, during its monitoring and investigations, found that Lavakush Hospital had been operating without any permit, APO in-charge Ranjit Adhikari said.
Police also found that Tridev Hospital and its pharmacy, owned by doctors and health workers employed at a government hospital, and Shivganga Child Hospital, have not received permission for their operations.
Meanwhile, when asked about the irregularities, chief of the District Health Office Dayashankar Karn said that the office lacked adequate budget for carrying out monitoring.
Siraha has eight hospitals with operating permission. Among these, some have not had their licenses renewed.
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