A Group D contract employee of a district hospital in Bagalkot has been arrested on charges of raping a woman who was staying at the hospital to take care of her brother, police said on Thursday. The hospital authorities dismissed the accused from service shortly after the incident came to light.
Police said the 34-year-old woman had been staying at the hospital for nearly a month while caring for her brother, who was undergoing treatment there. During this period, she communicated with the defendant, Farid Saab Denji, an outside worker from Group D who worked at the hospital.
According to the complaint, the defendant allegedly threatened the woman and dragged her into the bathroom sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. on May 4, where he sexually assaulted her. Police said he locked her inside before fleeing.
Upon hearing the woman’s screams, the hospital attendants and relatives opened the bathroom door and rescued her. It was alleged that some of those present were later able to arrest the accused and hand him over to the police.
Bagalkot Superintendent of Police Siddharth Goyal said that the accused was arrested and remanded in judicial custody under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act.
“The woman victim who was allegedly raped by the accused was treated at the same hospital and is in good condition. The staff of the women’s police station moved quickly and arrested the accused,” Goyal told reporters on Thursday.
Bagalkot Women Police Station Circle Inspector Dulari said that more than five charges have been leveled against the accused, including rape, criminal intimidation, wrongful confinement and intentional insult intended to provoke breach of peace.
“On Wednesday, he was taken into judicial custody due to his crime,” the officer said, adding that the investigation is continuing.
The incident caused concern within the hospital administration because it occurred within the premises of the regional hospital.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Mahesh Kuni, said that the accused was removed from duty immediately after he was handed over to the police.
“A few minutes after the accused was handed over to the hospital authority, he was handed over to the police and was immediately dismissed from services,” Kony said.
He described the incident as damaging the institution’s reputation, and said that the administration would strengthen guarantees for women inside the hospital.
He added: “This incident has damaged the hospital’s reputation. The necessary measures will be taken to ensure that such incidents are not repeated, with greater emphasis on the safety and security of women.”
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