Doctor arrested in India sterilization deaths

NEW DELHI (AP) — A senior medical official in India says the doctor who conducted sterilization procedures after which 13 women died has been arrested.

Dr. S.K. Mandal, the chief medical officer in central Chhattisgarh state where the surgeries were performed, says the surgeon was arrested late Wednesday after he had gone into hiding.

According to Mandal, the suspect, Dr. R.K. Gupta, had performed over 80 sterilization surgeries in six hours. That's a breach of government protocol, which prohibits surgeons from performing more than 30 sterilizations in a day.

Saturday's surgeries were part of a free government-run sterilization campaign aimed at curbing a booming population. The women were sent home that evening but dozens became ill. Thirteen died and 16 others are fighting for their lives.