Home guard held for ‘assault, rape threats’ to woman doctor at Bengal govt hospital

After receiving the complaint, police launched an investigation that night and arrested Sheikh Babulal and Sheikh Hasibur. Sheikh Babulal is a home guard with the Uluberia Traffic Police.

Police said a pregnant woman from Lohanagar in Kharia, Mynapur, had been admitted to the hospital on Monday morning. In the afternoon, her family members came to see her while a female doctor was examining her in the ward. The doctor said that after examining the patient, she informed her relatives that a senior doctor would see the woman after visiting hours ended at 6 pm.

The complainant alleged, “The relatives of the pregnant woman did not listen to me. Instead, they started threatening me. The accused had punched me on my shoulder, twisted my arm, verbally abused me and threatened that if I go out on the road, they would rape me.”

She alleged that the home guard claimed to be a police officer and threatened her with dire consequences. The junior doctor alleged that there were no security guards present at the time and that she was rescued by other nurses in the ward. The hospital then informed the local police and, based on her written complaint, the arrests were made.

A senior police officer said a case has been filed against the accused and CCTV footage of the hospital is being examined.

Subir Majumdar, MSVP in charge of the hospital, told mediapersons, “We are trying to increase security. New security guards have been appointed, CCTV cameras installed, and an internal committee has been formed in this matter. We will be sending a report.”

The case has once again raised questions about workplace safety for women. The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ body has submitted a deputation to the hospital superintendent demanding enhanced security for women doctors. The BJP also staged a protest outside the court, demanding justice in the case.

In August last year, an on-duty woman doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital by a civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, who was later sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sealdah Court.