3-member probe team set up after rats nibble farmer’s body at mortuary

ROHTAK: The body of a 70-yearold farmer, who had been taking part in the farmers’ protest at Delhi’s Singhu border against the Centre’s three farm laws, was allegedly gnawed at by rats at the Sonepat civil hospital’s mortuary, prompting the authorities to order a probe.

The body of Rajender Saroha of Baiyanpur village in Sonepat district was kept in the mortuary for post-mortem after his death on Wednesday night.

On Thursday morning, the farmer’s son, Pradeep Saroha, noticed rodent bite marks on the face and a foot. “My father had been taking part in the agitation and was on dharna at Rasoi village for four days. His health deteriorated on Wednesday and he was brought to the civil hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead after a heart attack. I found blood oozing from the face and a foot,” Pradeep said.

Sonepat principal medical officer Jai Bhagwan said a team of three doctors, deputy medical superintendents Ginni Lamba, Sandeep Lathwal and senior medical officer Sushil Jain, has been formed to inquire into the matter.

“The doctors will see on whose part there has been negligence. The body was handed over the family and the cremation was carried out on Thursday,” Dr Jai Bhagwan said, adding the team of doctors will submit its report in two days.

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala described the incident as shocking. In a tweet, he said a farmer’s body has been nibbled by rodents and the “BJP government acts as a mute spectator”.