Follow-up action, clean chit cast shadow on DCO’s probe

Jaipur: After a gang dealing in blood smuggled from Raj was busted in UP recently, follow-up action in desert state has raised eyebrows on functioning of drugs control organisation (DCO) in Raj. Eight blood banks allegedly on the radar of UP special task force which was looking into case were raided initially but were promptly given a clean chit by the DCO here.

Although DCO’s report admitted that over 11,000 units of blood was smuggled into UP in past two years, the director general, DCO, who is supposed to be aware of even inter-district movement of blood had no inkling about it. To recall, on June 30, UP STF had busted a gang of seven members who used to smuggle human blood units donated to charitable institutions in Rajasthan and sell them through blood banks in Lucknow and other parts of UP. A total of 302 units of blood kept in ice bags were also recovered from their possession. As soon as the information was received, DCO, swung into action and raided blood banks on the scanner of UP STF. However, Raj drug controller Ajay Phatak said that according to the guidelines of NACO, inter-state movement of blood is permitted. DCO’s report after multiple raids revealed that eight blood banks allegedly sent over 11,000 units of blood to UP in past 2 years. Of these, according to DCO report, 2,645 units of blood was sent to UP.