Pharmacist remanded to four days in police custody for alleged involvement in terminating pregnancy of a minor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 08 2017: Special Judge POCSO Imphal West, today, rejected the bail plea filed by a pharmacist (Homoeo) Dr Devbala under Director of Ayush, Government of Manipur, presently posted at Bishnupur District Hospital Ayush Wing, who was allegedly involved in terminating the pregnancy of a minor girl and remanded her to four days in police custody.

The accused was produced before the Special Judge POCSO Imphal West by a team of Singjamei police station with prayer for five days police custody remand.

According to the police prayer, a complaint was lodged by a lady from Konung Mamang at Singjamei police station on April 14 alleging that one Leimapokpam Aki alias Pele (30) s/o L Shyamjai of Chingamakha Liwa Lambi had enticed the minor, who was only 14 at the time, and took her to a friend's house at Sagolband where he sexually assaulted her, in June last year, and forced the minor to elope with him.

Eventually, the minor became pregnant and Aki along with his mother took her to a health clinic at Rupmahal Tank, BT road on January 25 and the pregnancy was terminated by a woman health worker of the centre, after which she was thrown out of the house and forced to take shelter at the complainant's house.

During the course of the investigation, a team of Singjamei police station arrested the woman health worker involved in the incident and identified her as Dr Devbala from Rupmahal Tank, BT road.

During preliminary interrogation, Dr Takhenchangbam Devbala (51) w/o K Angouba Sharma of Kongba Kshetri Leikai and a Pharmacist (Homoeo) under Director of Ayush, Government of Manipur, admitted that she conducted the procedure after taking ultrasound and blood test of the minor girl on January 25 and after taking the consent of the girl's mother and her mother in law on the consent form.

Dr Devbala filed an application objecting the prayer of IO along with a prayer to release on bail.

The Court, after hearing the APP and defence counsel, ordered the health worker be remanded to four days in police custody till May 8 and also rejected the prayer for granting bail.

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