Family members of a poor tribal woman who lost her leg after stepping on an alleged Maoist-planted bomb at a forest in Latehar last month and is now undergoing treatment at state-owned hospital in Ranchi have said they had spent nearly Rs 70,000 on her treatment.

Lalita Devi, 30, wife of Rajesh Khairwar and a resident of Kudpani village under Tarwadih panchayat in Latehar district, had accidentally set her foot on an improvised explosive device allegedly planted by Maoists in Nareshgarh forest where she had gone to pick mahua flowers on April 12. She had suffered grievous injuries during the blast.

“Forget about compensation for Maoist violence from the government. We have already spent nearly Rs 70,000 from our own pocket as medical expenses. The expenses are primarily because of costly medicines which we are asked to bring from outside and also to meet food needs of the three relatives who have to help Lalita for her daily chores as she is not able to move. Even the dressing is not done regularly,” said her husband Rajesh.

Lalita Devi, who was earlier in the orthopaedic ward in April, has now been shifted to the surgical intensive care unit of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) — the biggest state-run hospital in the state.

The relatives on Thursday wrote a letter to Latehar deputy commissioner Abu Imran to arrange for compensation from the central and state fund in line with norms for victims of Maoist violence.

“We are from an extremely poor background and have managed to arrange Rs 70,000 with much difficulty. We have run out of money. Doctors have informed us that plastic surgery would be carried out and expensive medicines would be needed. We do not know what to do and we have appealed to the deputy commissioner for help for the plastic surgery and prosthetic leg,” said Rajesh.

Lalita Devi was shifted from Latehar Sadar Hospital to RIMS in Ranchi for better treatment on April 12 itself.

Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (a coalition of organisations fighting for human rights) on Saturday tweeted the issue to chief minister Hemant Soren, health minister Banna Gupta and RIMS hospital administration on April 16.

Latehar deputy commissioner Abu Imran said that he was yet to receive the letter.

“I am yet to receive their letter but have received a message about their plight and have asked the superintendent of police to arrange for all documents so that we can arrange for compensation entitled for Naxalite violence victim and also help in whatever way possible from the administration side for their treatment,” said Imran.

RIMS superintendent Dr H. Birua said they would look into the issue of medicines being asked to be brought from outside.

“There were specific instructions to staff that for such patients medicines available in the hospital only should be prescribed. I will look into it,” said Dr Birua.