Saha, a resident of Nabagram in Garia, was admitted to the hospital three days ago with a high temperature.

His relatives have accused a hospital employee of demanding money to hand over the prescription.

“The doctors told me to buy some life-saving drugs from a nearby medical store last night as the hospital did not have them. But the ward boy refused to hand over the prescription to us. He demanded money first, but I refused to pay,” said Palash Saha, the patient’s brother.

The hospital authorities, however, denied the allegation. Superintendent HK Chandra said the youth had died due to multi-organ failure.

“It is impossible that a ward boy refused to hand over the prescription to a relative,” he added.

Following Saha’s death, his relatives, accompanied by local youths, ransacked a portion of the hospital, including the superintendent’s office.

They also pelted stones at the building and beat up the security guards.

The hospital authorities had to call in the police to control the agitated crowd.