Women ransack Collector Office in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj. Here’s why

Baripada: Several women today barged into the office of Mayurbhanj District Collector and ransacked properties of the office. A scuffle ensued between them and police before the incident.

The issue pertains to alleged baby swapping at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College & Hospital here on May 5. Two women of Shyamakhunta block in the district having same name had given birth to two sons at the hospital.

However, baby boy of Brajamohan Singh (father of one of the babies) was allegedly handed over to Kartik Singh (father of one of the babies) by the hospital authorities. Another baby, who was admitted to Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the hospital as his condition deteriorated after delivery, died on May 11.

On being contacted by hospital authorities over the baby’s death, Kartik informed them that his son was healthy and alive at his house. Later, the authorities told Kartik to come to the hospital with the baby for administration of vaccine.

As he reached the hospital with the baby, they took the baby inside the SNCU and informed him that the baby died, alleged Kartik.

Tension erupted at the Collector’s Office today over the incident as many women of Kartik’s locality created ruckus and ransacked it.

Later, eight persons including three women were arrested for allegedly vandalising the Mayurbhanj Collector’s office.