COIMBATORE: Doctors and staff members of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) have revived their long-pending demand for a dedicated police station on the hospital premises, citing the growing security challenges and an alleged rise in criminal incidents.
The police have also backed the demands of the hospital staff, pointing to the heavy workload shared by the personnel attached to the C2 Race Course police station, under its jurisdiction the police outpost at the hospital falls.
Only two police personnel -- one each from the city and the district police limits -- are deputed at a given time at the police outpost in the CMCH, which handles more than 6,000 patients on a daily basis. Hospital authorities expect that upgrading the outpost into a police station would strengthen security measures, improve crime prevention, and ensure faster police response.
The demand for a dedicated police station grew strong in late 2024, following the sexual harassment attempt on a woman house surgeon on the hospital premises. Sources said that several incidents such as thefts, assaults, a drunken brawl, trespassing, and a security breach -- especially the recent escape of a prisoner from the hospital -- have since been reported. Hospital authorities expect that a visible police presence could curb the number of such crimes within the facility.
Meanwhile, police sources said the Race Course station's sanctioned strength is 57, however, it has been operating with just 25 police personnel, with 12 posts lying vacant, 16 personnel deputed on other duty, and four on leave.
Along with the CMCH, the Race Course police station oversees multiple key government establishments at the heart of the city, including the collectorate, VOC Park, Coimbatore Central Prison, Coimbatore Railway Junction, combined court complex, city police commissionerate, district police office, fire and rescue services headquarters, and Race Course area.
Managing law and order, crime prevention, security arrangements, VIP visits, court-related duties, and emergencies across all these sensitive establishments remains a major challenge to the police.
A police official said, "Though the station limits extend only about five kilometres, the concentration of key government offices and public institutions results in an unusually heavy workload. If the CMCH gets a separate station, the workload would come down as a few of the major offices and areas will fall under the limits of the new station."
CMCH authorities have submitted requests to the city police commissioner, seeking a dedicated police station. They are also planning to pursue the matter with the health department, after being advised that such a proposal should be routed through the department for further consideration by the government.
A senior CMCH official said, "It is our long-standing demand, and we are facing various issues in recent days, including a security breach and unsafe situations for the hospital staff. Being a hospital offering tertiary care, the facility witnesses thousands of patients and attendants every day.
Besides handling emergencies, the hospital frequently deals with medico-legal cases, accident victims, assault cases, unidentified persons, theft complaints, and disputes involving patients' relatives."
