Guwahati, June 2: A person from Assam's Nalbari district today lodged a police complaint, alleging that he had "lost" his left leg due to wrong treatment at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). The hospital has handed over the case to the government for investigation.

According to the complaint lodged with Bhangaghar police station, Niranjan Nath, 26, of Rampur, was admitted to the GMCH on February 9 with pain in his left leg. The doctors advised surgery, which was done on February 11. However, after an hour of the surgery, he was referred to International Hospital, a city-based private hospital, without assigning any reason. Nath alleged that when he wanted to know the reason, Dr Rakesh Das, who operated upon him, abused him and his companions.

Nath underwent treatment at International Hospital for a few days after which he returned to the GMCH and continued his treatment under Das.

Nath further alleged that when the plaster was removed after two months, he came to know that he had a serious infection on his leg and the doctors advised him to undergo plastic surgery.

He alleged that Das asked him to meet him in his private chamber, saying his leg required special treatment. "He (Das) said proper cure would cost me a lot of money but I could not afford it," he added.

Nath met health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma yesterday, when he visited the GMCH. He said Sarma took note of his problem and directed the GMCH authorities to take necessary action.

Reacting to the allegation, GMCH superintendent Ramen Talukdar said they had referred the matter to the state government for investigation.

"If there is any fault on the part of the doctor or any other employee, then he/she should be punished. The health minister discussed the issue with us yesterday. We have issued referral certificate to the patient for further treatment at Apollo Hospital, Chennai," Talukdar told The Telegraph .

Das said the infection after the surgery was normal and the allegations were baseless.

"It was a tendon repair surgery. In medical science, 20 out of 100 persons suffer from infection after this kind of surgery. It is a normal case. His leg is not impaired permanently. It will recover but a long-term treatment will be required. Plastic surgery may have to be done. Our senior doctors investigated his leg today but due to continuous request from Nath, a referral certificate was issued to him," Das told this correspondent.