Dr. Veerendra Heggade urges devotees to not be misled by rumors in Sowjanya's case
Says he had always demanded justice for Sowjanya
Beltangady: Dr. Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple, has issued a press statement demanding appropriate justice in the case of Sowjanya's death. Sowjanya, a college student from Pangla, was found dead in 2012, and the case is currently under the purview of the court and investigating agencies.
In his statement, Dr. Heggade emphasized that the case was handled by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and later it was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based on requests from Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple and the family members of the victim.
Dr. Heggade stated that the CBI conducted a thorough investigation and submitted a charge sheet against the accused to the court. However, the court subsequently acquitted the accused during the trial.
Despite the court's decision, Dr. Heggade expressed concern about the spread of false accusations targeting Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple and his family. He urged the public and devotees not to be misled by derogatory statements, false rumors, and baseless accusations.
Dr. Heggade's press statement clarified that Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple had taken proactive steps to seek justice in the Sowjanya case. The temple authorities had urged the government to conduct a high-level investigation, which ultimately led to the CBI taking over the case.
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4 children test HIV positive in MP govt hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
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MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
