Kolkata: The arrest of a schoolteacher in Nadia for allegedly selling his deceased mother’s donated cornea sparked fear that such an action could hamper the pace of organ and tissue donation in Bengal. Voluntary grouos and doctors’ bodies demanded Amir Chand Shiekh’s release. Various organisations on Tuesday staged a protest in front of the Kotwali PS against the arrest.
Sheikh, a teacher at a primary school, was arrested on Monday after some villagers lodged a complaint, alleging he sold his mother’s cornea. While he had said he was being framed, villagers also pointed out that Sheikh was caught in a long-standing land dispute with some residents.Those protesting against his arrest, said Sheikh was involved in various science movements, fought for river conservation and also campaigned for cornea, body and organ donation. “Sheikh campaigned for cornea donation even during the Gangasagar mela. His arrest seems to be a fallout of his active participation in the Save Anjana River movement, which had led the authorities to stall constructions by some powerful people,” said Dipak Roy, who is also part of the cornea donation movement in Nadia. Roy maintained Sheikh’s mother’s cornea was donated following all procedures and there was no question of any monetary exchange. “Earlier, too, we came across donor families, who were accused of selling organs of their deceased family members. Such allegations can be detrimental to the deceased organ donation movement,” said Sujan Bhattacharya, secretary, Barasat Samajik Seba Pratisthan. The organisation wrote to the state principal health secretary to intervene. Rajya Sarkari Peshajibi Joutha Sangram Committee, a conglomeration of organisations of doctors, engineers, vets and teachers, condemned the arrest. “Sheikh’s arrest is in violation of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994. He is involved in the people’s science movement, and the cornea donation was done in compliance with all formalities,” said orthopaedics professor Utpal Bandyopadhya, secretary, Association of Health Service Doctors, Bengal. The group also wrote to the Bengal CM, demanding the withdrawal of cases against Sheikh.(With inputs from Ashis Poddar)
