Kolkata: Three men have been arrested on Wednesday for allegedly running a tout racket at the state-run SSKM Hospital and cheating patients by selling OPD tickets. The arrests were made after an internal inquiry based on a complaint by Pijush Kumar Roy, medical superintendent and vice-principal of the hospital.The accused — Ashad Ali (21) of Chamrukhan Lane in Karaya, and Md Sahid (24) and Vihid Ahmed (39) from Begam Rupiya Sarani in Sankrail, Howrah — targeted patients and their families waiting in long queues at the OPD and offered to help them get tickets quickly but at a high price.A physical OPD ticket at the hospital counter costs Rs 2 while online registration through the state portal is free. Police said touts continue to exploit patients who are not aware of the online booking system.
