Strange: Odisha man given livestock injections, accused held

Villagers hand over accused to police; cops release quack after undertaking

By Sudam Kumar Patra

Baalsore, April 17: A man in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district was allegedly administered with three livestock injections by a local quack for his prolonged back pain, reports said on Sunday.

Reports said one Biswanath Behera, impersonating as a staff of Thakuramunda hospital, allegedly administered three injections to one Srikanta Mahanta of Mahuladiha village under Thakuramunda block. When Behera asked for money for the treatment, Mahanta’s son inquired about the injections which were administered to his father. And, to his surprise, he found that the injections were meant for the livestock.

“I have been suffering from back pain since long. Biswanath Behera came to the village and said he had come from Thakuramunda hospital to provide health check-up to locals. My wife called him for my check-up and he gave me three injections,” alleged Srikanta Mahanta.

Irate over the incident, locals detained Behera and handed him over to police. However, the villagers alleged that police freed Behera after signing an undertaking from him.

The police could not be contacted over the allegations leveled by the villagers.

Reacting on the development, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Mayurbhanj district, Nihar Ranjan Das said, “We have not received any formal complaint regarding the matter. We cannot launch a probe until a complaint from the concerned official is lodged.”