Patna, April 5: An HIV-positive couple and their three children have had to go to the police after their close relatives, including the man's parents drove them out of their ancestral house in Muzaffarpur district, proving once again that old superstitions about the disease persist in Bihar of the new millennium.

"We get free medicines from the hospital," said the 48-year-old man, who works as a mason to support his family of five. "However, ill-treatment by my parents, nine brothers and two sisters has made our life miserable. They are superstitious. My repeated pleas to my relatives that the disease will not harm them have fallen on deaf ears."

On Sunday, his relatives drove them out and told them to never come back.

The couple met Muzaffarpur deputy superintendent of police (DSP), east, Mutaffique Ahmad, who suggested they lodge a complaint with the police station concerned.

On Tuesday, the couple submitted a written complaint at the Mushahari police station, around 100km north of Patna, alleging harassment because of their HIV status.

Mushahari police station house officer (SHO) Satyendra Kumar Majhi said: "I immediately sent a police officer to the victims' house to inquire into the matter. The police officer, Sudhir Sah, prima facie found the allegations against the accused to be true."

The SHO said the accused were summoned to the police station today. "They have agreed not to misbehave with the couple and their children and allow them to stay in the house as earlier," he said.

DSP Ahmad said the cops were still probing the case, and pointed out that discrimination and ill-treatment of HIV-affected persons is an offence under the law.

Another police officer said there was a provision for jail term of up to two years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh on anyone who discriminates against such a person.

Earlier, the man's effort to settle the issue at the village panchayat had proved futile.

He suspects he contracted the disease about eight years ago, while he was a daily wage labourer in Nagpur, Maharashtra. He returned to his native village after he was detected as HIV positive.

Since then he had been undergoing treatment at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), Muzaffarpur. His wife became infected later.

Muzaffarpur-based medical practitioner Nishindra Kinjalk said superstitious villagers think the disease is air-borne and any infected person is a potential threat.

"This misconception still persists among people living in rural parts of the state. This often leads to ill-treatment by relatives," he added.

A few months ago, a similar complaint was received from an AIDS patient, said to be a resident of Chakledad village under Mushahari block of Muzaffarpur.

"Stigma and superstitious notions associated with the deadly disease continue to rule the roost despite concerned efforts from various quarters," lamented Pramod Kumar, a social activist.