OJM team meets deceased doctor’s family, CDMO

The fact-finding committee of Odisha Jan Morcha led by former senior civil judge Dipanker Panda on Saturday met CDMO Gyanendra Sahu and family members of the deceased Ayush doctor, Madhabilata Pradhan. Pradhan was found dead on railway tracks near Puri on October 12.

They inquired about the alleged negligence by the GRP and Kumbharpada Police in the incident.

On the other hand, Jyoti Panigrahi, chairperson of State Commission for Women, held a second round of talks with the CDMO and the GRP Inspector and Kumbharpara Police.  The CDMO had transferred Pradhan from a hospital in Brahmagiri area to Kanas community health centre in Puri district, allegedly following a directive from BJD’s Brahmagiri MLA Sanjay Dasburma.

Panigrahi collected the documents relating to Pradhan’s transfer, including letters by the Brahmagiri MLA, the Health Minister, the ZP president and the District Collector effecting transfer of the doctor.

Earlier on Friday, activists of Sachetan Nagarik Manch staged a demonstration at the GRP station alleging police inaction and demanded handing over the body of the doctor to her family at the earliest. On Thursday, Pradhan’s body was found missing from the Mashani Chandi burial ground here when police and her family members went there to exhume it for last rites.