Berhampur: In a major development, the Berhampur Police busted an illegal sex determination ultrasound test racket and arrested 13 persons including the main accused and an ASHA worker, in this connection.
The accused have been identified as Durga Prasad Nayak (41) of Ananda Nagar, Ankuli, Berhampur; Akhaya Dalai (24) of Nigam Nagar 5th lane, Berhampur; Hari Mohana Dalai(42), of Karana Street, Kukudakhandi; Rina Pradhan(40) of village Bhikapada, PS-Khalikote (Ashakarmi in CHC, Kholikote); Rabindranath Satpathy(39) of Sri Durga Pathology, Bhabanagar 4th Lane, Berhampur.
Other accused are Kali Charan Bisoyi(38) Nirnay Diagonistic & Research Centre, Bhabanagar Chhak, Berhampur; Susant Kumar Nanda(40) of Sai Krupa Seva Sadan Nursing Home, Courtpeta Chhak, Berhampur; Padma Charan Bhuyan(60) Jagannath Clinic, near Vishal Mega Mart), Berhampur; Sibaram Pradhan(37) Josoda Nursing Home, New Bus Stand, Berhampur; Sumanta Kumar Pradhan(30) Mrutyunjaya Hospital, New Bus Stand, Berhampur, Dhabaleswar Nayak(51) of Bhabandha, PS Purushottampur, and Mailapuri Sujata(49) Prop of Smart Hospital, New Bus stand, Berhampur and Subash Ch Raut (48) of Ralaba, PS: Hinjili ,Ganjam , ( Jogan Sahayak at Ralab GP ).
The police also seized one LOGIQ-e make Ultrasound machine along with ultrasound probes and connector, one Laminated LOGIQ Book XP Ultrasound machine, Ultrasound transmission gel used for Ultrasound, cash worth Rs 18,200 and one mobile phone.
Based on reliable information regarding illegal sex determination ultrasound test being conducted using ultrasound machine at Ananda Nagar, Ankuli, the Berhampur Police team raided in the house cum clinic run by Durga Prasad Nayak at around 12.30 pm on May 26.
The accused was conducting sex selection and eleven pregnant women were present in the first floor of the house. Two ultrasound machines with probes were seized along with other articles, the police said.
Durga Prasad Nayak has been running the illegal sex selection center for more than two-three years without any license and illegally uses the seized ultrasound machine to determine the sex of the foetus of pregnant women, the police stated.
Akshaya Kumar Dalai and Haramohan Dalai have been assisting the accused Durgaprasad Nayak by picking pregnant women from different places and taking them to the house of the accused for determination of sex of the fetus .
On May 26, Rina Pradhan, who is an ASHA worker, had brought two pregnant women of her village for the test to his house and had received commission from the accused Durga Prasad Nayak. Other accused persons who are employed in different labs, private clinics are found to be sending the pregnant women to the clinic through Akshya Dalai and Haramohan Dalai for sex determination of fetus and were receiving commission from Durga Nayak regularly.
After determination of sex the husband of some of the pregnant ladies are found to abort the pregnancy if the sex of the fetus is female.
All the accused persons are arrested and being forwarded to court today, informed Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M. while adding that the further investigation is underway.