A 32-year-old woman patient was allegedly molested by a staffer inside a ward of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the SCB Medical College and Hospital late on Monday night.
The employee, lab technician Karunakar Mohanty (47), has been arrested even as the hospital authorities began an enquiry as to how he could gain access to the female ward in the dead of the night.
According to reports, the victim had been admitted to the department for child birth in August. She had given birth to a baby girl on August 4 and shifted to the O&G ward for recuperation. At around 1.30 am, Mohanty entered the ward full of patients and approached bed No.735, where the victim was lying with her newborn.
He allegedly identified himself as a doctor and proceeded to examine her.
With his activities arousing suspicion, the victim woman’s mother protested, but was abused by Mohanty.
The victim and her mother then raised an alarm following which security guards rushed in and nabbed the accused. He was immediately handed over to the police.
Hospital sources said Mohanty was engaged as laboratory technician at the Regional Diagnostic Centre adjacent to the O&G Department.
He was on night duty when he ventured into the ward with devious intention. He was reportedly stopped at the O&G Department gate by the security guards, but was allowed in when he showed them his hospital identity card. He went straight up to the ward and committed the crime.
While Mangalabag police forwarded him to court, hospital authorities said he was immediately suspended and further action was being initiated. “We have also started inquiring why the security could not prevent his entry into the prohibited area, that too in the dead of the night. We are also taking strong action to prevent any such incident in future”, superintendent Prof Shyama Kanungo said.