Minor Gets Raped In COVID Ward in Patna
A minor girl rescued from Barah railway station was allegedly raped by a private security guard inside Covid-19 isolation ward of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
The incident occurred on the evening of July 8, the day she was brought to the isolation ward of PMCH, but police were informed on Wednesday that the survivor had made her statement to an employee of the Child Helpline who had gone to visit him. She was found alone at Barah railway station and handed over to the child helpline officials.
SHO of Pirbahore, Rizwan Ahmed Khan said, “The accused Mahesh Kumar (40), who hails from Danapur, was arrested from PMCH. He is a retired army man, working with a private security guard agency and stationed at PMCH.”
“The woman was informed about the incident, where an FIR was registered based on the victim’s statement,” Khan said.
Aarti Kumari Jaiswal, SHO of Mahila police station, said the survivor had alleged that Mahesh raped her by dragging her inside the bathroom of the isolation ward. “Later, he molested her on one occasion,” she said.
Jaiswal said the survivor was taken to the isolation ward as she was a suspected Covid-19 positive as she was rescued from Barah railway station. Jaiswal said the victim told police that some other women were also inside the isolation ward when the incident took place. “It is a matter of investigation how some other women were also present when the incident happened,” Jaiswal said.
According to the SHO, the survivor’s medical examination and recording of the statement before a judicial magistrate will be completed within the next two days. Barah GRP SHO, Rajesh Kumar Singh told over phone that the maid worked at Rs 500 per month in a village in Biharsharif town in Uttar Pradesh.
He said that he did not have only his cell phone number, which was not working. She reached Barah railway station to board a bus at Bihar railway station on 8 July, when she was handed over to the child helpline.
Bihar State Women’s Commission chairperson Dilmani Mishra told that she had taken cognizance of the incident. “This is a serious incident. I will seek information from the SP to ensure speedy punishment in the case and also talk to the survivor to know further details,” he said.
(As per Supreme Court instructions on sexual harassment cases, the identity of the victim has not been revealed to protect her privacy)
