Probe ordered into reports on inmates in mental asylum

The West Bengal government has ordered an enquiry into reports that inmates of a state-run mental asylum in Behrampore were forced to remain naked in inhumane conditions for the last one year.
"We have constituted an enquiry team to look into the matter. But I will not be able to tell you when the enquiry will be held as it will be done in a surprise manner," West Bengal Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy told PTI today.
However, he said, the enquiry would be started soon and the report submitted to the department on the basis of which the next step would be taken.

Action would be taken against the guilty, Satpathy said.
The matter surfaced when a city-based mental health rights organisation visited the state-run mental in Behrampore to celebrate Independence Day this Monday with the patients.
Officials of the NGO alleged that men and women inmates slept on dirty floors and are forced to use filthy toilets.
Photographs of inmates at the asylum went viral on social media.
Some of the photographs also tagged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well as Union Health Minister JP Nadda and several other government authorities.