Students' protest against alleged forced blood denotation in Rajasthan

Chomu (Rajasthan), Aug 22(ANI): Angry residents of Chomu, a town 60 km from Jaipur, took to streets on Saturday following reports that teenaged school children were allegedly forced to donate blood at a medical camp.

Student organisations Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) organised the protest march.

The protestors alleged that a ruling Congress party deputy had organised the blood donation camp to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi last Thursday (August 20) and that students below 18 years of age were forced to donate blood against their wishes.

Over 50 students from a state-run school had participated in the blood donation camp, and some of them alleged that they were forced to donate blood.

"They took out my blood. They told me that it just a blood test and I was forced to donate. They also beat up a lot of people who tried to protest," said Tarachand, a student.

The incident came to light when a student named Mukesh fell ill after blood donation and was referred to a hospital in Jaipur. His condition was reported to be unstable.

"My child was admitted in the emergency ward of SMS hospital. But, later he was shifted to the general ward and is being given glucose. He is not talking and hasn't come into consciousness. He has a severe pain in his head. He had a high fever last night," said Om Prakash, father of Mukesh.

However, Congress party deputy Sahni denied the allegations saying that no one was forced to blood and termed the protest as a ploy to defame him.

"It was a blood donation camp and many school children gave blood. I read in the papers that a boy fell ill after giving blood. This incident has been hatched to defame me," said Sahni n defense. (ANI)