Odisha Dalit family leaves village fearing arrests over kidney sale!

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Brahmapur, Aug 3:

Barely three days after the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch arrested five persons for their involvement in the illegal kidney sale and transplantation in Kandhamal district, the family members of the donor have reportedly left their hometown for unknown reasons.

Kanhu (right) with his father Barun Behera
Kanhu (right) with his father Barun Behera

While it is said that Kanhu Behera’s family have left their house to evade possible arrest, the neighbours of the Behera family do not have any inkling of their disappearance.

The organ recipient’s family members along with a mediator were among the five persons arrested on July 30. The arrested persons have been identified as Mahendra Pattnaik (42) of Brahmapur (recipient), his wife Sulata Pattnaik (38), elder brother Rajendra Pattnaik (56) of Brahmapur, brother-in-law Kiran Kumar Pattnayak (37) of Hinjli and Trinath Mohanty (53) of Phulbani Town, the mediator.

Reportedly, Mahendra Patnaik’s family had evinced interest to receive the organ from Kanhu’s father, Barun. As Barun was not keen to donate kidney, Kanhu came forward to donate his organ. For organ transplant, Kanhu was taken to Seven Hills Hospital in Chennai on March 19. Later, he was flown to Candy in Sri Lanka where he underwent the operation for organ transplant on March 24.

Post Kanhu’s operation in the island nation, the family was given Rs 3.5 lakh.

The probe into this sensational case of alleged kidney sale was handed over to the district police and Collector.

Based on the report of Kandhamal Collector Yamini Sarangi, the government had handed over the case to the Crime Branch. Following this, the Crime Branch arrested five persons for allegedly violating the laws.

Section 18, 19, 20, 21 of Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act and 467, 468, 471, 474, 120 (B) of IPC have been slapped against the accused.

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