Hyderabad: Doctor, assistant among five booked in auto drivers’ overdose deaths

Two auto drivers were found dead due to drug overdose in Chandrayangutta. Police arrested three persons, including a hospital worker who stole Atranium injections. A doctor and his assistant were also booked for negligence in storing the vials. Investigation continues

Hyderabad: A doctor and his assistant are among five persons cited as accused in the case involving the death of two auto drivers due to drug overdose.

It may be recalled that on December 2, the two victims Jahangir Khan (25) and Syed Irfan (29) were found dead in an autorickshaw under suspicious circumstances at Chandrayangutta. Investigators had found syringes near the bodies that led to suspicion of drug overdose.

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As part of the investigation, three individuals were arrested on Wednesday while two others were unavailable for examination, Chandrayangutta police said.

After verifying footage from CCTV, police caught one person Saif, who was with Irfan and Jahangir. On questioning, Saif told police that Jahangir and Irfan had injected Atranium injection and died due to overdose.

Atranium injection refers to a prescription muscle relaxant containing Atracurium besilate as the active ingredient. It is used exclusively in clinical or hospital settings as an adjunct to general anaesthesia for surgery, mechanical ventilation and intubation.

“On further investigation, we came to know that Jahangir had sourced the injection from Kalyan, who in turn arranged it from Shiva Shankar and handed it over to Jahangir, Saif and Irfan. Shiva Shankar works at a private hospital and had stolen the injections from the operation theatre and sold it to Jahangir and others,” said ACP Chandrayangutta, A Sudhakar.

The police during investigation found that the doctor S Jaipal Reddy, who is the managing director and chairman of ABS Hospital and also a neurosurgeon, had ordered 25 vials of Atranium injection from a pharmacy.

“The injections were left in the operation theatre carelessly and Shiva Shankar managed to steal it. The doctor Jaipal Reddy and his assistant Mohammad Vikaruddin are booked in the case for negligence in safely keeping the injections,” said the ACP.

Further investigation is on.