ALL INDIA Democratic Women’s Association vice-president Brinda Karat blamed unofficial sterilisation targets yesterday for the deaths of eight women and the critical condition of 20 others.

Over 80 women, all poor villagers under the age of 32, had their operations on Saturday in a hospital outside Bilaspur city in the central state of Chhattisgarh, officials said.

The women were sent home, but more than two dozen were later rushed in ambulances to private hospitals after becoming ill.

State deputy health director Amar Singh confirmed yesterday that eight had died — apparently from either blood poisoning or haemorrhagic shock caused by loss of blood.

Ms Karat, a leading member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said: “These women have become victims because of the target-based approach to population control,” demanding that the state health minister resign.

The state suspended four government doctors, including the surgeon who performed the operations and the district’s chief medical officer.