Kolkata, Jan 16: The West Bengal health department has suspended 12 doctors after the death of a woman and a newborn baby in the alleged expiry saline case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday.

Five women fell ill after being allegedly administered expired Ringer’s Lactate at a state-run medical college and hospital in West Midnapore district. One of the five women, Mamoni Ruidas died on January 10, and the baby passed away on Thursday morning. The baby was of Rekha Shaw, one of the five surviving women.

“Parallel probes by the state health department and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the matter had proved the negligence of these doctors towards duty beyond doubt. Had these doctors performed their duties properly, these lives could have been saved. These 12 doctors have been suspended already. Apart from that the CID is conducting a probe into the matter and legal proceedings will be adopted against the doctors as per findings and legal provisions,” the Chief Minister said.

These suspended doctors include the medical superintendent-cum vice-principal (MSVP) and the resident medical officer of the said medical college & hospital.

The CM also said that had there been CCTVs within the operation theatres, the offenders could have been caught red-handed. “I think that CCTV machines should be installed in each and every operation theatre and I have asked the state health secretary to take necessary action on this count,” the Chief Minister said.

She said the compensation of Rs 5,00,000 will be provided by the state government to the family members of the deceased woman.

“At the same time, we would also be offering a job to one member of the family if they want,” the Chief Minister said.

She also said that there is a rule of eight hours of duty for the senior doctors, which many of them are not following. “Such negligence towards medical duty is equivalent to a criminal offence. So we need to take strong action. If you think that you are unable to perform the prescribed duties you can quit your job and go to any other state,” the Chief Minister said.

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, who accompanied the Chief Minister at the press conference, said that from the investigation it is clear the operation protocols were not followed in this particular case. “The junior doctors were given the responsibility of the operation in the absence of senior doctors,” Pant said.

However, the Chief Minister disagreed with the popular thought that the administration of expired Ringer’s Lactate was responsible for the tragedies at the said medical college and hospital. “Had it been the case, then there would have been similar reports from other hospitals in the state where the same solution was used,” the Chief Minister said.

Kolkata, Jan 16: A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Thursday, directed the West Bengal government to pay compensation to the families of all the victims who had fallen sick, with one woman and a child already dead, after being allegedly administered with expired Ringer’s Lactate at a state-run medical college and hospital last week.

While one woman, Mamoni Ruidas died on January 10, the latest victim on Thursday morning was the newborn baby of another mother Rekha Shaw, who had also fallen sick last week after being allegedly administered with the expired Ringer’s Lactate. Three other women are currently under treatment.

Two public interest litigations (PILs) were filed in the matter earlier this week at the Calcutta High Court.

Acting on the PILs, the Calcutta High Court’s division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hirnamay Bhattacharya, on Thursday, besides directing the state government to pay compensation to the families of the victims, also directed the administration to submit an action-take report in the matter to the court within the next two week.

In the report, the division bench directed the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, to elaborate on the details of actions taken against the Ringer’s Lactate supplying entity Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, which was blacklisted first by the Karnataka government and subsequently by the West Bengal government.

Meanwhile, the state health department has already ordered the removal of the erstwhile special secretary to the state health department (medicine department) Chaitali Chakraborty in connection with the “expired” saline tragedy. She has been replaced by Suvanjan Das.

On Wednesday, the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari demanded that Central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) be involved in the ongoing probe into the matter being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police and a team of the state health department.

The state health department first directed the medical superintendents-cum-vice principals of all medical colleges and hospitals and all the chief medical officers of the districts “to ensure total stoppage of the existing stock of Compound Sodium Lactate Injection (RL) supplied by Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd in his/her jurisdiction”. Later, the state government also directed the removal of stocks of all medicines supplied by the said company from all healthcare entities in the state.

Bidar (Karnataka), Jan 16: In a shocking incident, a gang of robbers shot dead a guard, seriously injured another, and looted an ATM cash vehicle in broad daylight in Karnataka’s Bidar city on Thursday.

The incident occurred in front of the State Bank of India (SBI) Main Branch in Bidar city, with the robbers escaping with Rs 93 lakh in cash.

The robbers, who were following the vehicle, attacked the cash van in front of the bank where the ATM was also located. One of the guards in the vehicle, Giri Venkatesh, died on the spot after being shot, while another guard, Shivakumar, sustained critical injuries. the doctors said that Shivakumar’s condition was extremely critical. Before opening fire, the robbers threw chilli powder on the guards. According to police reports, two masked robbers fired five rounds at the ATM vehicle and guards.

Following the attack, they made off with Rs 93 lakh in cash. Bidar Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Gunti rushed to the scene and was overseeing the investigation.

The attack occurred while the ATM was being filled with cash at Shivaji Chowk, located in the heart of Bidar city. The injured guard, Shivakumar, is being treated at the Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS).

The robbers, who were riding two motorcycles, carried out the attack, took the cash box, and fled. Although locals raised an alarm, threw stones at them, and attempted to catch them, the robbers managed to dodge and escape.

Sources revealed that both Giri Venkatesh and Shivakumar were employees of CMS Agency, a company that provides ATM cash-filling services.

The robbers, dressed in black jackets and hats, carried backpacks during the attack. Police have obtained CCTV footage of the incident and launched a manhunt to apprehend the culprits.

Panic spread in the area after the attack and loot. More details were awaited.