Kolkata: Not newborns but medical waste in plastic bags, officials clarify

Previously it was reported that bodies of 14 newborns in various stages of decomposition were found in a vacant land in Haridebpur area in southern Kolkata during a cleaning programme.

The bodies were found on the grassy land on Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani under the Haridebpur Police station area when labourers were cleaning it. Photo: ANI

KOLKATA:  In a queer turn of events, what were initially feared to be foetuses and bodies of newborns dumped in a deserted ground in Kolkata turned out to be packets full of medical wastes, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said on Sunday. Previously it was reported that bodies of 14 newborns in various stages of decomposition were found in a vacant land in Haridebpur area in southern Kolkata during a cleaning programme. Later at a press conference, DC South West Division Nilanjan Biswas said it appeared the bags contained foetuses. Senior officers of Kolkata Police as well as the city mayor who rushed to spot also confirmed them to be dead bodies of newborns and sent them to M.R. Bangur Hospital here for autopsy. The doctors at the hospital, however, said they did not find any human elements inside the packets. "Initially, the packets seemed to be containing foetuses and bodies of newborns. But police did not open the packets. However, when the packets were opened at the hospital, the doctors found no human tissues," Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police Praveen Tripathi said. "The doctors said that the stuff inside might be medical or clinical wastes. Forensic test will be done to confirm the same," he added. Earlier in the day, a senior city police officer confirmed that the packets possibly contained foetuses. "Fourteen bodies and foetuses, wrapped separately in plastic, were recovered from a deserted plot of land on the Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani in Haridebpur area on Sunday. The packets were found scattered within an area of 20-25 feet at one side of ground that was fenced with tin shade, a senior officer from Kolkata Police had said in a press conference. City mayor Sovan Chatterjee also confirmed the same and said chemical was applied on the body to stop them from emitting rotting smell.