Two quacks arrested, hospital sealed at Alanganallur

Based on a complaint from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Vadipatti, Natarajan, a case was registered against them. Narasimma Varman, DSP, Vigilance (Health Department), who was also part of the team that raided the hospitals, claimed that the arrested duo were Mohammed Hanifa, a local businessman, and Uthpal Sarkar, from West Bengal. 

Hanifa had identified himself as a general doctor and had treated general ailments. Interestingly he had three papers, which had names of common diseases and treatment, pasted on his table. When people came with ailments, he would look into the diseases chart and prescribe medicines. Uthpal Sarkar had declared himself as a piles specialist. 

While the hospital run by Utpal Sarkar was sealed, the one run by Hanifa was not as there are other certified doctors there, claimed Narasimma Varman. Local sources claimed that Hanifa had earlier worked as an assistant for a doctor at Karur and then started his own hospital at Alanganallur. Soon he had constructed a shopping complex and named it Baba complex. A market and his hospital were also named after Baba. However, Hanifa had earned the name of family doctor in the village and people had great trust on him claimed sources. 

Speaking to DTNext, Rukmani, claimed that Hanifa was running the hospital for more than 10 years while Utpal has been running it for four years. Hanifa had completed PUC of yesteryears while Sarkar had completed SSLC. Sarkar’s elder brother was a doctor and hence Sarkar used his brother’s name to set up a hospital in the village. The medicines used by them were also seized and were handed over to Police claimed Rukmani.