Dumped foetuses: Lab owner held

TIRUCHY: A day after The New Indian Express carried a report on medical wastes, including developed foetuses being thrown into sewage ponds, the owner of the laboratory concerned was arrested.Vijayaraghavan (46), owner of Askha Laboratory, was arrested and booked under section 269 of the IPC, that deals with negligent acts likely to spread infectious diseases dangerous to lives.  The lab was previously operating at Thillai Nagar and is now functioning at Shastri Road. On Sunday, children reported to the residents the horrible sight of dogs carrying foetuses.Residents of Keezha Panchapur, where the medical waste was found, informed the council member K Thangaraj. It was found that the dogs carried foetuses from the Corporation-owned sewage pond in Muniappa Nagar.They found about 300 containers of medical wastes, containing developed and partially-developed foetuses.  The containers also had blood samples used in Askha laboratory.Thangaraj immediately alerted Corporation officials, the police and the VAO.  City health officer Dr K C Cheran ordered an investigation into the matter.