UP Police STF busts fake blood bank racket in Lucknow, 5 arrested

By Vasudev

The Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday night busted a gang that indulged in black marketing of blood. According to officials of the STF, they used to mix chemical and water with blood to convert one unit of to two units.

As part of the racket, labourers and rickshaw drivers were made to donate blood and were paid an amount ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 for the same.

The STF also conducted raids at two private blood banks – BNK Blood Bank and Medicine Blood Bank. Of the five persons who were arrested, two worked at the BNK Blood Bank in Lucknow. The authorities have also taken several documents and ledger files in their possession for further scrutiny.

The five arrested have been identified as Rashid Ali, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Mohammad Naseem, Pankaj Kumar Tripathi and Honey Nigam alias Rajnish Nigam. They told the authorities during interrogation that the racket had been operational for the past six months.

They allegedly sold over 1000 units of blood in the last six months. The blood was usually sold to government hospitals and some nurses were also involved in the same. The role of several hospitals is also being probed in connection with the racket.

The racket was busted by a constable of the special task force who went to several hospitals and blood banks in disguise to know about the functioning.

Reacting to this, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh said that a thorough probe was being conducted by the STF into the racket, adding that strong action would be taken against those found involved. He further said that the government had adequate amount of blood and anyone in need could approach them for the same.