GUWAHATI: Five people have tested positive for HIV after blood transfusion at Mangaldai Civil Hospital in Assam ’s Darrang district.

The HIV status came to light on Friday, forcing chief minister Tarun Gogoi to order police to register a criminal case against those responsible for the transfusion.

The CM acknowledged that the hospital staff’s negligence had infected the five with the deadly virus after the transfusion of blood from an HIV-positive donor.

“This is a criminal negligence. Departmental action like suspending the guilty government official will not suffice. There should be criminal charge against officials found guilty,” Gogoi said. “Only after the inquiry is completed, we will know how many victims have been infected.’’

Gogoi said since the five were infected due to negligence, the government would take complete care of them.

He ordered a scrutiny of all 36 private blood banks apart from those in government hospitals to ensure such incidents do not occur again.

On Saturday, a team of the health department started its inquiry at the Mangaldai Civil Hospital. The team will submit its report within 72 hours.

Residents of Mangaldoi staged a blockade on NH-52 against the state health department and disrupted traffic for several hours. Security forces resorted to lathi charge to clear the highway.

Hospital authorities said they only know of two victims, who contracted the infection from the donor.

But activist and State AIDS Control Society employee Jahnavi Goswami said five people had been infected and she feared that there could be more.