The Tribune, January 31, 2003

41 held for hospital arson 
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, January 30
The police have arrested 41 persons in connection with the arson and damage caused to property at Sangwan Hospital in Badhra on December 29. The police had registered cases under Sections 452, 427 and 437 of the IPC against 49 persons. Earlier, executives of the Sarvjatiya Sheoran Khap Chaurasi had decided at a meeting held at Bhandwa village under the presidentship of Ram Swaroop Sidhanwa that they would court arrest if any attempt was made to nab a few of the villagers. However, Dr Anant Kaur, wife of Dr Sumer Singh Sangwan, who is under judicial custody at present, did not appear before the panchayat. The village elders had decided to have a meeting with the administration on Thursday in the presence of those booked in the case and demand the withdrawal of cases against people who had been allegedly implicated falsely. The meeting decided to demand a judicial inquiry into the hospital episode. The panchayat flayed the arson at the hospital.

Dr Sangwan had been arrested on the charge of molesting a girl of Lad village. The victim was later found dead under mysterious circumstances. The residents of Badhra had protested against the opening of the hospital and launched a silent agitation.