13 fed poisoned ‘prasad’, robbed

Thirteen people were hospitalised on Wednesday for suspected poisoning after two youths from Bihar gave them sweets mixed with sleep inducing pills and decamped with jewelery and cash at Chowki village.

Suman Kumari was among those who were hospitalised at Sector 6 government hospital (GMCH). She said that she had been robbed of Rs 25,000.

"On Tuesday evening, two youth came to us and gave us some ladoos for us to eat which they told us was prasad. My husband and I took it and few hours later we fell unconscious. When we woke up in the morning we found that we were robbed off the money," she added.

Relatives of those hospitalised said the two youth who stole their jewelery and cash had come earlier as well telling them that they want to set up a shop in the area.

"One of the two youths was 30-35 years of age and the other was in his twenties and they introduced themselves as residents of Bihar. Yesterday evening they came to us saying that they have found a space in the locality and gave us sweets to eat," said Sham Lal on Wednesday, whose uncle was hospitalised.

Hospital officials said that they have admitted the residents for 'suspected poisoning'. "We enrolled 13 patients. We have taken blood samples and the condition of the patients is stable," added a senior doctor.

Chandimadir police officials said a case has been registered under sections 380 and 328 of IPC and investigations are on.

"We are recording statements. The identity of the people who committed the theft however could not be established as of now," said a police official.

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