Other

5 Jan 2006

In power

BJD — Odisha

Acted

State government, Odisha

Doctors at the Jajpur district hospital cut off the palms of five of the dead during post-mortems; police said this was to take fingerprints for identification. On the night of 5 January the Chief Minister ordered the suspension of three doctors. The doctors said they were following police orders, and the chief district medical officer said he ordered the cutting after a written requisition from the Jajpur town police station; police later blamed the doctors. The state also asked the Orissa Human Rights Commission to inquire into allegations that private parts of the dead were mutilated. The Orissa Post reported in 2017 that the commission found the doctors had violated their service conduct rules, that the High Court barred punitive action against them and that their suspension was revoked; PTI and the Hindustan Times reported in 2018 that the doctors had been dismissed. According to NewsClick, the Mohanty commission found that the doctors had severed the palms without authority and contrary to the police request, and, according to a citizens' statement, absolved them of any oblique intent. In May 2006 the state agreed to return the palms; families refused them and demanded DNA tests. In November 2018 the preserved palms were taken from a club and found scattered near the memorial pillar. [7][9][8][2][5][1][10][6][4][3]

Draft. Written with AI help from the sources listed. Not yet checked by a person. 9 claims are held back until sourced. Report an error