UP: Baby dies after 'drunk' rickshaw-puller gives him injection

An eight-month-old baby admitted to district hospital in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh died on Wednesday after a rickshaw-puller allegedly gave him an injection and police has registered a first information report against three persons in this connection.

The FIR has been registered against Dr Vinesh Kumar, pharmacist Srikant and rickshaw-puller Desh Kumar Verma alias Bechu on complaint of the victim's grandmother Sapna Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police K C Goswami said.

Condemning the incident, state Health Minister Ahmad Hasan told reporters in Lucknow that he had ordered a high-level probe into the matter and strict action would be initiated against those found guilty. According to a complaint filed by the child's family, the incident took place on Wednesday morning when the accused rickshaw puller, allegedly in an inebriated state, administered an injection to the baby leading to his death, Goswami said.

District Magistrate Sunil Kumar Srivastava said according to prima facie inquiry, the child was given an injection by someone who was not from the health department. A recommendation has been made to the government to take stern action against the guilty health staff.

In July last year, a sweeper was caught on camera attending to patients in emergency ward of the same hospital. Sweeper Raj Kumar had claimed he administered injections and stitches according to instructions given by doctors.

Meanwhile, the health minister said, "A high-level team will be sent to Ballia for probing the matter and strict action will be initiated against those found guilty."

Image: Video grab of the rickshaw-puller with the baby at the hosiptal in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh

Courtesy: ANI