Nayagarh: A nursing home owner was arrested for allegedly conducting banned sex determination test and abortion here in the district.

The accused was identified as Sridhar Pradhan. He was held during a joint raid by the district administration and police at a clinic said to be registered for treating orthopedic disorders.

A married couple was also rescued from the clinic during the raid.

The illegal practice at the clinic came to fore after the couple from Narasinghpur area in Cuttack district approached a nurse working at Nayagarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for female foeticide.

According to reports, the couple has already been blessed with twin girls. After they came to know about a female fetus during ultrasound of second pregnancy, they opted for abortion for which they consulted a nurse in the state-run hospital. The latter suggested them to visit a laboratory situated behind the DHH for abortion.

Acting on a tip-off, the district administration along with the police officials conducted raid at the clinic and traced the couple inside the building. They managed to capture nursing home owner while the woman was waiting for undergoing next step of treatment after taking an abortion pill.

The magistrate sealed the clinic for further probe into the incident.

Later, the woman was admitted to the Nayagarh DHH for treatment.

Meanwhile, a staff of the clinic also admitted about the illegal practice at the laboratory. He stated that the abortion has been conducted earlier twice at the clinic.

However, the clinic owner refuted the allegations. He clarified that the clinic and laboratory were proposed to be registered for orthopedic disorder treatment and test.