Child Raped in COVID Isolation Ward
A minor girl has allegedly been raped inside the Covid-19 isolation ward of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) by a private security guard.
A minor girl was allegedly raped inside the Covid-19 isolation ward of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) by a private security guard. The accused has been arrested. The incidence took place on 8th July 2020 evening. The girl was earlier found alone at Barh railway station. She was handed over to the child helpline authorities. She was suspected of being Covid-19 positive so was sent to isolation ward at PMCH. The incident happened the same day that she was brought to the isolation ward. Out of fear she did not inform anybody about it. Later when the child helpline staff went to visit the girl on Wednesday 15th July, she narrated her ordeal to her. Pirbahore SHO (Station House Officer) Rizwan Ahmed Khan said, "The man who raped her was Mahesh Kumar a 40 year old man and a resident of Danapur. He was arrested from PMCH. He is a retired Army man and was working with a private security guard agency and posted at the PMCH. Women's police station was informed about the incident, FIR was lodged based on the victim's statement."
Women's police station SHO Arti Kumari Jaiswal said that the girl informed Mahesh that she raped her after dragging her inside the isolation ward's bathroom. Later, he also molested her once. The victim (girl) told police that some other women were also inside the isolation ward when the incident took place. Jaiswal said, "We are investigating how the incident took place when some other women were also present in the ward."
She added that the girl’s medical examination and recording of statement in front of the judicial magistrate will be done in two days. Barh GRP SHO Rajesh Kumar Singh, the officer who found her at the railway station said that the girl worked as a maid in a village in Biharsharif town of Nalanda for only Rs 500 per month. He said, "She didn't have any address, only a mobile number which was not working. She had boarded a bus from Biharsharif to reach Barh railway station on 8th July. She was then handed over to the child helpline.” The Bihar State Women's Commission Chairman, Dilmani Mishra said that she has taken notice of the incident. She added, "It is a serious incident. I will take details from the SP (Superintendent of Police) about the case and quick conviction (sure punishment) and will also talk to the girl to know further details."
