Insider connection suspected

The doctors and staff of Pabna Mental Hospital have termed the mysterious robbery at the store a case of pilferage by a section of staff.

Locals and most of the doctors and staff alleged that some doctors and staff are involved in Thursday night's incident, in which robbers allegedly took away medicines and cash said to be worth about Tk 31 lakh.

Police arrested storekeeper Zillur Rahman and cashier Abdul Gafar.

Sources said a hospital ambulance was used without permission from the authorities at the time of the alleged robbery. The stolen drugs and money were carried away on board the vehicle, they added.

Hospital Director Dr AKM Abdus Samad Mia said Zillur took the ambulance to Tangail for personal use without permission from any authorised staff. He said they are probing the matter.

Zillur is an accused in several murder, abduction and medicines robbery cases and was freed on bail. He illegally enjoyed all government facilities while on bail for the last one year.

Samad, however, said they knew nothing about him.

A hospital source said the robbery was stage-managed to avert an inspection of the auditors from the health ministry to probe pilferage from the store.

The doctors and staff demanded of the district administration and health ministry to run an investigation in to the matter, although the authorities are yet to form a probe committee.