The West Singhbhum civil surgeon and other officials were suspended after it came to light that five children suffering from thalassemia tested HIV-positive in Chaibasa following blood transfusions. Chief Minister Hemant Soren also ordered a high-level probe into the incident.

The Opposition BJP, however, attacked the government, terming the incident "shameful" and a "state-sponsored attempt to murder children".

High-level probe

The suspension came after the family of a seven-year-old thalassemia patient alleged that the local blood bank in Chaibasa, the district headquarters of West Singhbhum, had transfused HIV-contaminated blood to their child. During an inquiry by a five-member medical team from Ranchi on Saturday, four more children were found to be HIV-positive.

"This is a seriou

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