Hospital staff in Puttur protest against bribery allegations for post-mortem services
Puttur: Outsourced staff members of a government hospital in Puttur staged a protest on Saturday in response to allegations made by a social organization claiming that post-mortems were being conducted only after bribes were paid. The staff vehemently denied these allegations and clarified that they were merely accepting the allowances provided to them.
Expressing their outrage, the outsourced staff members, who assist the hospital staff with post-mortems, protested against the baseless accusations made by the Kaliyuga Seva Samiti of Chikkamudnur. They highlighted the lack of evidence and emphasized that they had been falsely accused of bribery. As a result, the staff refused to cooperate with the post-mortem examinations of two bodies at the hospital.
Two deceased individuals, Sharath Joshi (22) from Bellare, who passed away due to a heart attack, and Rajan (51) from Kollam in Kerala, who resided in Nattibail, Uppinangady, and worked as a cement ring maker, were brought to the hospital mortuary. The families of the deceased however, faced difficulties as the protesting staff members outside the hospital refused to cooperate with the post-mortem examinations.
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Puttur Taluk Health Officer Dr. Deepak Rai and hospital doctor Dr. Yaduraj engaged in discussions with the protesting staff in an effort to resolve the issue. The doctors appealed to the staff to cooperate with the ongoing post-mortem examinations of the two bodies. Subsequently, the staff members opened the mortuary door and proceeded with the post-mortem examinations.
Dr. Deepak Rai, the Taluk Health Officer, spoke to Vartha Bharathi, stating, "Only government employees have the authority to conduct post-mortems. Outsourcing is not practiced by our employees. We work tirelessly for meager salaries, driven by our commitment to serving humanity. It is true that we receive what is offered to us, but we do not ask for bribes. Nevertheless, baseless allegations have been leveled against us, prompting our protest and refusal to perform the post-mortems."
Dr. Rai expressed concern over the situation, highlighting the inadequate number of government employees available to conduct post-mortems. Out of the 34 posts in the B group, only two are filled, with three staff members working on an outsourced basis alongside the doctors for post-mortem examinations, and three staff members serving as assistants. Their remuneration is significantly low, and they often have to work during nighttime hours. Despite these challenges, the staff members have been dedicated to their work, contributing to the esteemed reputation of Puttur hospital in the district, he said.
Dr. Rai demanded that the accusers clarify who is allegedly receiving bribes and urged them to withdraw their unfounded allegations. He emphasized that the reputation of the hospital had been tarnished due to these accusations against doctors and staff members.
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Christmas decorations vandalised by VHP activists at school in Nalbari; Tension in area
Nalbari: Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.
According to local sources, activists of the VHP and Bajrang Dal entered the school campus ahead of Christmas and raised slogans inside the premises. It is alleged that Christmas-related decorations and materials kept within the school compound were damaged and set on fire.
Eyewitnesses said that members of the Bajrang Dal were the first to enter the campus, during which they allegedly raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram,” “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and burnt items prepared for Christmas celebrations. The incident created panic among local residents and led to concerns over law and order in the area. No injuries have been reported so far.
The incident comes amid reports of similar acts in Nalbari town in recent days, where Christmas decorations displayed at several commercial establishments were allegedly set on fire.
Reacting to the incident, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair said on social media that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St Mary’s School on Christmas Eve, raised slogans and destroyed Christmas decorations. His post drew attention to the incident and sparked wider discussion online.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are awaited.
On Christmas Eve, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal goons entered St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, Nalbari, chanting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hindu Rashtra.” They destroyed and set fire to all Christmas decorations prepared at the school. pic.twitter.com/LQHV7FWUvz
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 24, 2025
