Bappa’s wife Shobha and their children along with Trinamul Congress supporters on their way to the office of the principal of the NBMCH on Wednesday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Siliguri, Feb. 3: A surgeon of the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital accused of having nexus with touts has denied the charges in a report he has submitted to the principal.

The family of Bappa Debnath has alleged that at Dr Sagar Narang’s behest, an ambulance driver had influenced them to move the mechanic with a serious leg injury from the NBMCH where he was initially brought to a nursing home.

Dr Narang, who was on emergency duty at the NBMCH, had said Bappa’s leg would have to be amputated. The ambulance driver then told Bappa’s family to shift him to a nursing home. On the way there he gave them Dr Narang’s card and asked them to consult the surgeon at the nursing home. Bappa was operated at the nursing home under Dr Narang two months ago but he is yet to recover. He is currently admitted to Siliguri District Hospital, where doctors said the operation wound was infected and it would take Bappa at least a year to recover completely.

Since then, the Debnaths have been demanding exemplary punishment for Dr Narang.

“The doctor was asked to provide us in writing his account of the incident that took place on December 11. In his report, he flatly denied the charges against him. Narang said he was on duty at the hospital but not at the emergency ward where the patient had been admitted,” said J.B. Saha, the NBMCH principal.

Bappa’s wife Shobha accompanied by Trinamul leaders and residents of Krishnanagar Colony in Binnaguri where she lives met the NBMCH principal today.

Bappa’s relatives said the inquiry against the surgeon would be lopsided if their version was not taken.

“This inquiry will be lopsided if the authorities do not interact with us in the same manner as they did with Dr Narang,” said a family member. The NBMCH authorities have fixed a meeting with both sides on February 20.