2 Hospitalized After Fake Doctor Injects Them With Animal Medicine

Authorities in India are on the lookout for a 65-year-old man who pretended to be a doctor and injected several people with solutions meant for livestock in the state of Odisha over the weekend, according to reports.

The man, identified as Biswanath Behera, introduced himself as a new doctor from the city of Bhubaneswar, local station OdishaTV reported.

Behera gave two patients injections in Mayurbhanj's Thakurmunda block Saturday to deal with their respective ailments.

He allegedly administered three livestock injections to one of the patients, Daitari Mahanta, who was suffering from prolonged back pain, a report by the newspaper Pragativadi said.

"As per the assurance of Behera, I was administered the injections at a cost of Rs 500 ($6.55)," Mahanta was quoted as saying.

However, he was later admitted to a Thakurmunda hospital after complaining of severe headache and stomachache.

"Initially, I felt a little relief, but later my pain became unbearable," Mahanta explained.

Mahanta's son, Gajendra Mahanta, inquired about the injections that were administered to his father and discovered that they were for livestock.

Meanwhile, another patient who allegedly also received livestock injections from Behera was admitted to a community health center and exhibited symptoms of fever, diarrhea and nausea.

Behera allegedly also administered livestock injections to another person in the Thakurmunda area a few days ago, according to the OdishaTV report, but no additional details regarding the patient were disclosed.

The alleged quack doctor has fled, and a first information report has been registered against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including attempted murder, according to Inspector Ranjuhasini Kulu of the Mohuldiha police station.

Authorities have reportedly launched a manhunt to nab Behera.

A similar incident happened in the state of Karnataka nearly a year ago when a volleyball coach injected a boy with a poisonous solution, which resulted in one of the minor's arms being amputated.

The coach, identified only as Manoj, dissolved unidentified tablets in water and injected the solution into an unnamed 17-year-old's forearm.

The teen later experienced swelling on his right elbow and was taken to a hospital, where doctors informed him that there was a poisonous substance in the elbow and that his arm had to be amputated.

A case was registered against Manoj under Section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit offense) of the IPC.

Manoj was already detained over his alleged involvement in a separate bike theft case at the time Chamarajpet police sought a body warrant against him for the injection.