Cornea donation turns tragic after family of deceased arrested in Krishnagar

What should have been remembered as an act of rare courage and humanitarian foresight has instead descended into suspicion, violence, and arrest. A 63-year-old woman, who had legally pledged her organs for medical science, now lies at the centre of a criminal case, while her grieving family members spend their first days of mourning behind bars.

Rabia Bibi Sheikh (63), a resident of Senpur Shyamnagar Para under Kotwali police station limits in Krishnagar, had formally pledged to donate her organs ~ including her corneas ~ in 2024 through a registered voluntary organisation, Gana Darpan of Kolkata. Her pledge, made in sound mental condition and in the presence of witnesses, was part of an awareness camp organised by the Lions Club of Chandannagar, according to official documents.

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Following her death on Sunday morning, her son Amir Chand Sheikh, himself associated with posthumous cornea donation awareness, contacted doctors as per protocol. A medical team subsequently retrieved both corneas, which were handed over to Baharampur State General Hospital for transplantation, officials of the organisation confirmed.

However, tensions flared soon after. While the family waited for other relatives to arrive before proceeding to the burial, a section of local residents allegedly attacked them, accusing the family of selling the woman’s eyes and being part of a human organ trafficking racket. Amid the growing unrest, police intervened and brought the family members to Kotwali police station, initially claiming that they were rescued from an irate mob.

The situation took a dramatic turn early Monday when police registered a case on the basis of a written complaint lodged by a neighbour, Rasid Sheikh (44). In his complaint, Rasid alleged that Rabia Bibi had been ill-treated by her family during her lifetime and claimed that her organs had been removed for monetary gain. He further alleged links between the family and organ traffickers.

Acting on the complaint, police arrested five family members ~ three women and two men ~ under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Krishnagar and remanded to three days’ judicial custody.

Meanwhile, Rabia Bibi’s body was sent to the police morgue for post-mortem examination.

Contradicting the allegations, Gana Darpan issued a formal communication confirming that the corneas were retrieved lawfully and ethically, in accordance with the deceased’s written consent. The organisation described Rabia Bibi’s decision as an “outstanding example of scientific temper and humanitarian values”.

The incident has sparked unease among medical and social activists, who fear that such cases may discourage voluntary organ donation ~ particularly within marginalised communities where awareness efforts have only recently begun to take root.

As investigations continue, the case raises troubling questions: how a legally documented act of donation came to be criminalised, and how grief, suspicion, and misinformation combined to turn a final act of generosity into a cause for arrest.

Police officials said the matter is under investigation.