CCTV footage captured a stray dog racing across the lawns of Medinirai Medical College and Hospital in Palamu with a fetus clenched in its jaws.
The incident, recorded on Tuesday, came to light after a video went viral on social media, prompting the district administration to launch an inquiry.
Investigators traced the source of the fetus to Uttam Hospital and Nipun Ultrasound Center, located roughly 100 metres from the college, where a 16‑year‑old girl underwent an illegal abortion.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Suresh Kumar said the abortion was performed without a valid pregnancy certificate, violating the PC‑PNDT Act.
Police have sealed both facilities and registered an FIR against eleven individuals, citing the POCSO Act and the Clinical Establishments Act, and are reviewing additional CCTV footage to identify the person who discarded the fetus.
The case underscores growing concerns about clandestine abortion practices in rural Jharkhand, with state health officials pledging stricter enforcement.