MP: Foetuses recovered from pit

Parts of at least 14 foetuses between four to eight months were among the skeletal remains recovered from a pit at a missionary hospital in Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, official sources said on Tuesday.

At least 10 still-born babies were reportedly born and 35 dilatation and curettage procedures carried out in the hospital in last one year, they said.

"We have found 14 pieces of right scapula indicating that at least as many number of four to eight-month-old foetuses were buried at the Ratlam Christian Hospital," Madhya Pradesh Medic Legal Institute Director D K Satpathy told PTI.

Four pieces of bones, probably amputated limbs of 55-65 year-old-persons, were also found in the samples, he said, adding that condition of bones suggest the burials had been taking place since the last two years.

Some pieces were about six months old. Claiming that it was too early to arrive at a conclusion about the sex of the foetuses, he said experts were working on them and a final report will be prepared in another five-six

days.

Ratlam police scrutinised records seized from the Hospital and claimed that 371 deliveries were performed at the medical facility in the last one year. Ten babies were stillborn, while 35 DNCs were performed by the doctors during the period.

As many as 437 pieces of skulls and bones were found from the pit behind the operation theatre since February 17, they said, adding that the Hospital's Medical Superintendent Patiance Williams and sweeper Jagram were arrested for concealment of birth by secretly disposing bodies and later released on bail.

Protesting the incident, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists staged demonstrations in several cities, including Bhopal, demanding action against missionary hospitals.