Srinagar, Feb 3 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir police Crime Branch (CB) has registered a case against health department officials for assisting a company to cause wrongful loss to people in Kashmir.

A spokesman for the CB said FIR 02/2008 under section 420, 120-B RPC was registered against a company from Jammu after it was found that it sold anti- Hepatitis B vaccine on exorbitant rates with the help of health department officials in Kashmir.

The investigation has been taken up and action against the accused will soon be taken, he said.

He said a complaint was received that Hepatitis-B Vaccine provided by a pharmaceutical company from Jammu for vaccination programme in Kashmir valley in 2000-2001.

It said the health department here promoted the programme and vaccine of the company among the people by issuing advertisements in local newspapers.

Consequently, 10 ml of Hepatitis vaccine was sold to general public for Rs 1000.

However, during investigation it was found that the Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura, had purchased 10 ml Hepatitis vaccine from the same company for Rs 690.

But surprisingly the Director Health Service Jammu had purchased it from the company for Rs 480.

He said the health department officials here helped the company to subject the people of Kashmir to ''wrongful loss''.

Official sources said there was massive protests by people against the the health department and the particular company.

However, the then government did not take any action and the anti hepatitis vaccines programme received a major set back in the Valley.

UNI BAS MYK PY VC1340