The Rajasthan government on Saturday suspended six people and placed one official under awaiting posting orders over the death of 11 people in a government-run residential facility for the mentally challenged near here.
The decision came as Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje held a meeting with Social Welfare Minister Arun Chaturvedi, Medical and Health Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore and Chief Secretary C.S. Rajan and other officials over the deaths that included nine children.
The deaths occurred between April 16 and 27 in Jamdoli area near here.
"Director of directorate of specially-able persons has been placed under awaiting posting orders while six other officials including superintendent of the government facility and caretaker have been suspended," the state government said in a statement.
Stating that the deaths of children was a very serious and shocking incident, the chief minister accepted the carelessness of the officers in the case.
"Whoever is responsible for this incident, sitting at whatever high position, will face strict action," she said.
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Meanwhile, one more child was admitted on Saturday in the government-run hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) ward.
With this, nine people have been admitted in the government-run Sawai Man Singh and JK Lone hospitals, including four in critical condition.
The opposition Congress party has demanded an inquiry by a retired high court judge into the incident.
"Innocent children lost their lives because of gross negligence by state government officials. Vasundhara Raje government is now trying to sweep under the carpet the complete case," Rameshwar Dudi, leader of opposition in the state assembly and senior Congress leader, said.
"We want an inquiry by a retired judge," said Dudi.
Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, spokesperson of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, has asked the chief minister to sack Social Welfare Minister Chaturvedi.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued notice to the Rajasthan government on the deaths.
The Rajasthan government on Friday had announced setting up of a high-level committee to probe the deaths, including of nine children, in a government-run residential facility for the mentally challenged.
"We have formed a high-level committee to investigate the deaths and the panel is expected to give its report in 15 days," Chaturvedi said on Friday.
Chaturvedi said it seemed the deaths occurred due to some bacterial infection. The cause of bacterial infection has to be ascertained... why it happened and how it happened?
Doctors at the JK Lone Hospital are of the opinion the bacterial infection seemed to have been caused by either food or water.
Samples of drinking water have been collected and sent for testing. "We are awaiting the report," the minister said.
--IANS
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