Police told to probe into mutilation of baby's body

 Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao has instructed the Hassan district superintendent of police to conduct a detailed inquiry into the death of a two-month-old baby, whose face was bitten away by rats at the mortuary of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) hospital on Tuesday.

The baby breathed its last at a private hospital on Monday evening, allegedly due to doctors’ negligence. The Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident.

He has instructed the police to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter and the HIMS authorities to conduct a probe and punish the mortuary staff, if found guilty. The Lokayukta has ordered that a detailed report should be submitted to the Lokayukta registrar.

Manjula Manasa, chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, on Wednesday, visited the baby’s mother Yogamma. She promised to make efforts towards providing help to the baby’s parents from the government and the Commission.

Reacting to the incident, Minister of State for Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil told the Council that the government will initiate action against those responsible after receiving a report from the institute director. Patil was responding to a question by Somanna Bevinmarada (BJP).

Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said that a notice has been issued to the private nursing home for the alleged negligence when the baby was admitted there. He said that the department will take appropriate action once the nursing home responds.