BONGAIGAON, June 10 � The Bengtol anchalik unit of the ABSU on Tuesday filed an FIR at the Bongaigaon police station against a local private hospital alleging that it had a role in forcing a poor couple to sell their newborn baby to foot the hospital bill.
Sabita Narzary, wife of Philip Narzary and a resident of Kumguri in the Runikhata area in Chirang district, was first taken to the Bongaigaon Civil Hospital on June 3. Sabita was referred to the Chilarai Hospital and Research Centre by the civil hospital authority the same day. In this private hospital, she delivered a baby girl and the medical expenditure incurred was Rs 29,000. And to pay this amount, the Chilarai Hospital forced the couple to sell their baby to one Thaneswar Daimary, a resident of Tengajhar in the Goreswar area in Baksa district, the FIR read.
Chandra Devi, who is an Additional Deputy Commissioner in Bongaigaon and the owner of Chilarai Hospital and Research Centre, rejected the allegation outright and stated that her hospital never allows such an illegal activity on its premises.
�When Sabita�s husband Philip narrated his plight and inability to bring up the newborn baby to me, I suggested to him to give away the newborn to a childless couple, a relative of my friend in Baksa district, for the baby�s better future. Accordingly, I called them for negotiation. But I did not tell Philip to sell his baby for paying the hospital bill and whatever has happened was with the mutual consent of both the parties after the baby�s discharge from the hospital,� said Suniti Brahma, an ANM of the hospital.
While Philip, a wage earner, told the media that he was in a dilemma after hearing the amount of hospital bill, he did what the ANM suggested him to do. He paid the bill after taking the money from Thaneswar Daimary, who took the baby.
According to Arup Bose, manager of the hospital, the baby, weighing 2.8 kg, was born at 2:40 pm on June 3 through caesarian section by gynaecologist Dr Chandita Borah.
�Sabita (26) was released on June 7 after the payment of Rs 24,000, against the outstanding bill of Rs 30,000, by Philip. The birth certificate, issued by the hospital, bore the name of Philip Narzary and Sabita Narzary as parents of the newborn baby,� Bose said.
�Sabita was referred to Dr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed College and Hospital in Barpeta and not to Chilarai Hospital and Research Centre by the Bongaigaon Civil Hospital authority,� said Dr Jahirul Islam of Chilarai Hospital.
The student organisation submitted copies of the FIR to Bongaigaon Deputy Commissioner and Bengtol police outpost in Chirang district. They demanded return of the baby to their parents.
