Youth Congress members confront the hospital superintendent in his chamber on Wednesday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, March 26: The Jalpaiguri District Hospital authorities have constituted a four-member committee to investigate the death of two-and-a-half year old Ashish Barui, who did not regain consciousness after a minor surgery on his right ear yesterday.

Police have started a case against Dr Subir Mallick, the ENT specialist attached to the hospital, who performed the surgery to remove a grain of paddy from the child’s ear.

The FIR named both Mallick as well as the anaesthetist, Shyamali Gupta.

A post-mortem was conducted at the hospital this morning after which the body was handed over to the family.

Hospital superintendent S.C. Bhowmik said: “On the basis of a complaint lodged by the deceased child’s parents, it has been decided that a committee comprising three doctors and an official from the district administration would be formed to investigate the death.”

The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week, said Bhowmik. “The post-mortem report would also reach us by that time. We will scrutinise the information and take necessary steps against the accused persons if they are found guilty.”

Mallick and Gupta could not be contacted.

A paddy grain had got lodged in Ashish’s right ear on Sunday, causing him discomfort. His parents rushed him to Mallick the next day. The doctor examined the child and advised surgery.

Yesterday, Ashish was taken to the operation theatre at the hospital, given anaesthesia and operated on. After the surgery, the on-duty paramedical staff handed the grain to the mother, but the child never regained his senses and was later declared dead by Mallick.

Members of the Jalpaiguri District Youth Congress gheraoed the hospital superintendent in his chamber today, demanding immediate an inquiry by a team comprising officials who are not from the health department.