MEERUT: In a shocking scam, a sting operation done by a team of anti-corruption activists has revealed that workers in some Uttar Pradesh hospitals who assist doctors in conducting post-mortems have been removing organs from human bodies and selling them to tantriks who use them for black magic. A liver went for Rs 5,000. But a heart could go up to as much as Rs 20,000. TOI has procured videos of the sting operation.

Meerut district magistrate Pankaj Yadav on Saturday said he has sent a report to the government and sought a probe into the incident while CMO Ramesh Chandra said instructions have gone out “that no human body should be opened or closed for post mortem without the presence of police”.

In the video, a worker at the post-mortem house is seen explaining the rates to a man who pretends to be a potential buyer. He then says: “Liver from a fresh body costs Rs 5,100 while that of a body that's few days old can be purchased for Rs 2,000.” The worker goes on to claim that he recently sold the organ of a police official who died in an accident in Meerut on June 22 for Rs 5,100.

According to the worker, these organs are mostly procured by tantriks who perform black magic. “Generally, liver is the most sought-after organ but a few tantriks also look for other organs like heart,” said Kapil Patiyal, one of the team members who conducted the sting.

District hospital authorities said they had no idea how long this scam had been running. Chandra said, “It is quite unfortunate that such an inhuman activity is taking place here. We have issued strict instructions that no human body must be opened or closed for post-mortem without the presence of police and doctors.”

Superintendent of police (city) Om Prakash added, “This is the first time we have heard something of this kind. It is not only unethical but illegal as well. There is a whole procedure and consents are taken when an organ is removed from a body. And most of the time, it is done for transplantation. The matter is still under investigation by civic authorities. We will act only once a case is filed in the matter.”

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