Cuttack, Sept. 27: Police today busted a racket of private pathology labs and arrested two persons for forcing patients from SCB Medical College and Hospital's outpatient department (OPD) to undergo tests at their facilities.

The accused have been identified as Sanatan Moharana, 42, and Upendra Acharya, 32, of Jagatsinghpur.

Moharana runs Hanuman Care Diagnostic Centre on Kathagola Road, while Acharya works at Sunshine Pathology Lab at Mangalabag.

Both of them were allegedly diverting patients from the SCB on the pretext of providing medical treatment and pathological tests at cheaper rates than the state-run hospital.

"The accused were nabbed following a special drive launched at SCB today. They have been booked under sections 419, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code," said inspector-in-charge of Mangalabag police station Arun Swain.

Swain said that the duo used to impersonate themselves as technicians and lure patients to their pathological units.

Admitting the presence of touts of private diagnostic centres on its campus, SCB superintendent Pratap Rath said that it was practically impossible on their part to keep a tab on their movement due to lack of manpower.