In a disturbing incident at Uluberia Government Medical College and Hospital in Howrah district, police have made a third arrest in connection with the alleged assault and threats of sexual violence against a junior female doctor.
The latest arrest came on Tuesday night when Sheikh Samrat (24) was taken into custody from his Uluberia residence after investigators reportedly identified him from CCTV footage.
Previously, two other individuals—Sheikh Babulal, a home guard attached to Uluberia Traffic Police, and Sheikh Hasibur—had already been apprehended in connection with the case.
Authorities are continuing to probe the matter to determine the involvement of any other individuals.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on Monday evening, when a pregnant woman was being treated at the hospital.
According to the victim’s complaint, as she examined the patient, the woman’s family members became agitated after being informed that a senior doctor would attend to the patient following the closure of visiting hours at 6 pm.
The junior doctor alleged that the accused verbally abused her, physically assaulted her, and issued rape threats.
She claimed, “The relatives did not listen to me. They started threatening me. One of them punched me on my shoulder, twisted my arm, verbally abused me, and threatened that if I stepped out, they would rape me.”
In a shocking turn, the home guard, Sheikh Babulal, reportedly introduced himself as a police officer and threatened her with dire consequences. With no security personnel present at the time, the doctor was rescued by nurses stationed in the ward.
Police and Administrative Response
Following her written complaint, the police registered a case under the relevant sections. CCTV footage from the hospital is currently under review, and further investigation is ongoing.
TMC MLA Nirmal Majhi, who visited the hospital to meet officials, stated, “We don’t want to politicise the matter.
There was not enough security at the hospital. We have instructed drills to ensure proper attendance and preparedness.
There will be zero tolerance for such incidents. Both male and female guards must patrol inside wards wearing proper ID cards.”
Subir Majumdar, MSVP in charge, added that the hospital, being only three years old, is in the process of forming an inquiry committee.
“The junior doctor is traumatised. Once she is ready, the committee will begin its work.
Many guards have already been appointed under the Ratri Sathi scheme, but additional personnel have been requested,” he said.
The State Health Secretary, Narayan Swaroop Nigam, confirmed that the department is closely monitoring the case and has sought a detailed report from the hospital.
He praised the police for swift action.
Concerns Over Women’s Safety in Hospitals
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of female medical professionals in government hospitals.
The Service Doctors’ Forum and the Joint Platform of Doctors have submitted deputations to the hospital administration, urging stricter safety measures for doctors on duty, including increased security patrols, proper identification for guards, CCTV surveillance in all wards, and emergency response protocols.
This unsettling incident has prompted calls for long-term reforms in hospital security across West Bengal, with a focus on protecting female staff and ensuring patient-related conflicts do not escalate into violence.
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