Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have launched a major offensive against an illegal blood donation network following a shocking incident where six children with thalassaemia contracted HIV after receiving transfusions at a government hospital. The crackdown has so far led to the arrest of five individuals, with the latest two apprehended on Saturday.
Sting Operation Leads to Fresh Arrests
The investigation gained momentum after officials conducted a sting operation, catching a man red-handed while he was allegedly selling one unit of blood for Rs 4,000. This critical lead enabled the police to arrest Ankit Namdev from outside the district hospital in Satna. In a significant legal move, the First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on the complaint of a drug inspector, marking one of the initial cases in the district where the stringent provisions of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been applied against blood touts.
Another individual was also taken into custody. He initially identified himself as Shivam Verma, but police verification later revealed his real name to be Vijay Verma. The case has been registered under sections 125(A), 271, and 3(5) of the BNS, which pertain to acts endangering human life and public health. Officials emphasized that invoking these sections highlights the administration's serious approach to tackling the alleged black marketing of blood.
Five Arrests in Three Days
With these two latest arrests, the total number of individuals detained in the past three days has reached five. Ravendra Dwivedi, the in-charge of Kotwali police station, provided details to the media. "A total of five persons have been arrested so far. However, the first three were booked for breaking the peace under Section 151 of the CrPC. The two caught on Saturday were also booked under several sections, including Section 125 of the BNS, which deals with endangering human lives," he stated.
Dwivedi further explained the next steps in the investigation. "We will also take the three who were arrested earlier on remand, and relevant sections will be added against them. As of now, we have sought all the donor records from the health officials, and these records will be matched with the financial transactions made by the accused to zero in on the persons whom they brought as donors after taking money."
Ongoing Drive and Strict Warnings
The police and district administration have made it clear that the campaign against illegal blood brokers is far from over. They have issued stern warnings, stating that any form of blood black marketing will face severe legal consequences. This decisive action stems directly from the tragic case in Satna district, where six young thalassaemia patients tested positive for HIV after receiving blood transfusions at a government facility, exposing grave lapses in the blood transfusion safety protocol.
The incident has triggered statewide scrutiny of blood banks and donation processes. The use of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita signals a tougher stance from law enforcement, aiming to deter such dangerous practices that compromise public health. The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle the entire network and ensure such a tragedy does not recur.
