Imphal, August 18: Busting a racket of selling blood to the patient parties or simply living out of this illegal trade in the State, student body, DESAM has pulled up five persons including an agent from the JN Hospital, Porompat in Imphal East.

Among those pulled up, 43-year old Md Achouba s/o Abdul Gani is said to be in this business since 2001 and there are many persons working under him.

Achouba worked as an agent in negotiating between the patient parties who are in need of the life saving blood and those who are willing to sell it for money.

For every one unit of blood that a person sells, Achouba pays Rs 300 and sells the same to the patient parties anywhere between Rs 800 to Rs 1300 per unit.

Those who have been pulled up for selling their blood for money have been identified as Abdul Hasim (24) s/o Abdul Wahid of Oinam Sawombung, Phundreimayum Ejee Khan s/o late Abdul Khan of Khongjom Phundrei but presently staying at Khurai Heikrumakhong, Thambalngou Mayangmayum s/o late Tomba of Tera Hiyangkhong and Wangmamayum Nasir Khan (30) s/o Abdul of Top Kshetri Mayai Leikai.

All for of them are reportedly working under Md Achouba.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection at the head office of DESAM here today, publicity and propaganda secretary of the student body KC Ibomcha informed that during the course of interrogation, it has been confirmed that besides the ones who have been pulled up, there are also many others who are involved in the racket.

It has also been known from their statements that the technical staff of the Blood Bank of JN Hospital are also involved operation of the racket receiving Rs 200 to Rs 500 from the agents from time to time.

As per the norm, if a person has given his/her blood, then he or she cannot do so again for three months.

However, in this case, they were allowed even after 7 to 10 days.

The blood sellers did not know even their own blood group nor the possible health consequences of frequent drawing of blood from their body system, Ibomcha said, adding that such practices is against the guidelines of NACO as well.

For giving blood, administration of an iron tablet called Otrin is also essential to known whether the haemoglobin count of the person is above 12 gram percent or not, he pointed out.

On the other hand, technical staff of the Blood Bank have stated that as the patient parties always claimed that the persons who were brought for giving their blood were their own people, they did not investigate into the matter.

While informing that the five persons who have been pulled up would be handed over to their respective families after giving proper advice against involving in such illegal activities in the future, Ibomcha demanded that taking serious note of the matter the authority concerned of the Government should investigate into the matter and punished culprits.

There is also a big question over the blood being used in private clinic and hospitals which do not have their own blood banks in Manipur.

From where the required blood is being arranged is not known.

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