Howrah: A pharmacist and a woman who were having an extramarital affair were arrested on Saturday in Munshi Danga, Bankra for allegedly causing the death of the woman's husband, Nasim Sardar. They were accused of administering cancer drugs for viral fever, which led to organ failure.

Nasim Sardar, a garment merchant, had been suffering from viral fever for nearly three weeks. Instead of taking him to a proper medical facility, his wife, Sahina Parvin, consulted Sheikh Morselim, a local pharmacist with whom she was reportedly having an affair. Later, Morselim's staff member, Asif, delivered some medicine to Sahina, which she then began giving to Nasim.

Instead of improving, his condition worsened. On Thursday, Nasim became unconscious, and his relatives admitted him to a private hospital. Doctors at the hospital became suspicious and wanted to see the previous prescription as the victim's organs started failing.

He died on Friday morning.

Hospital staff requested to review Nasim's previous medications, but Sahina claimed they had all been used up.

Laila Begum, a neighbor of the victim and a member of Bankra Panchayat Samity, said, "Nasim had been suffering from viral fever for the last 21 days. He was given some medicine for the first week, but as the fever refused to go, his wife took him to the pharmacist."

Following Nasim's death, enraged neighbors violently attacked Sahina, accusing her of conspiracy. They promptly handed her over to the police and proceeded to vandalize and set fire to Morselim's house, pharmacy, and motorcycle.

In response to escalating tensions, law enforcement and RAF personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.

"We have initiated an investigation into the accusation and we are awaiting the results of the viscera report," stated the officer.

Input from various sources

Rehash/Simran Sethi/MSM