MP hospital: More bones found, 2 detained

Two persons were detained in connection with the recovery of remains of newborns and foetuses from a pit at a missionary hospital in Ratlam where more bones were found on Sunday, police said.

A sweeper of the hospital and a doctor were held for questioning and a first information report was filed regarding the concealment of birth by secret disposal of bodies under Section 318 of IPC, police said.

Acting on inputs from sweeper Jagram, heavy machines were used to dig the area near the pit behind the operation theatre of Ratlam Christian Hospital, where 390 pieces of skull and bones of three to four newborns and foetuses were found on Saturday.

A plastic bag containing more skeletal remains was found on Sunday and was examined by experts, police said.

As Bajrang Dal activists shouted slogans outside the hospital and demanded the arrest of those responsible, hospital gynaecologist Venu Gopalan was detained and taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation, police said.

Efforts were also on to trace hospital superintendent Patience Williams.

Jagram had claimed during questioning that Gopalan and Williams had instructed him to dispose the body parts.

While the digging near the pit was in progress, hospital records were seized.

Members of a committee comprising three doctors and two environment experts, which was formed by the district collector, chalked out methods for a probe into the incident.

Police were deployed in strength at the hospital to avert any untoward incident.