In a very Dabangg-style operation, the Dehradun police barge into the Emergency Ward of AIIMS Rishikesh in their Jeep. They arrested the man for molesting a female doctor. The incident has been viral on social media platforms since the cops drove on Wednesday and took an unusual approach to reach the hospital's fourth floor. The video circulating online shows the vehicle passing through a busy emergency triage area on the first floor. The car, trundling through the ward, shocked patients and attendants.
According to the media reports, the alleged incident of sexual harassment took place on May 19th, Sunday when nursing officer Satish Kumar allegedly harassed a junior resident doctor inside the operation theatre. He is also accused of sending her obscene texts on WhatsApp and MMS, the next day and threatened the doctor by saying he'd commit suicide.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun, Ajay Singh said the incident was initially reported to the AIIMS administration. According to the Vishakha guidelines, a committee was formed to address the issue. The accused was suspended the next day but was admitted to the psychiatric ward in the hospital.
The admittance of the accused to the psychiatry ward boiled the blood of the hospital staff as they grew suspicious. The victim also requested that the matter be looked into thoroughly and that Satish Kumar should be punished. So Mr. Singh and his team had to find a safe passage to bring the accused out of the hospital.
The incident was initially reported to the AIIMS administration and a committee was formed to address the issue. The accused was suspended the next day but was admitted to the psychiatric ward in the hospital.
Ajay Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun
The Police officer added that doctors started their protest on Tuesday after which the incident had been reported to the Uttarakhand Police and an FIR was field under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Therefore to catch the accused Nursing officer, the cops had to prefer an unconventional route because it was hard to bring him back on foot considering the heat among hospital staff members.
When the police arrived at the location, the AIIMS security in-charge said that the accused Satish Kumar should be removed from the ward otherwise things could get escalated in the heat of the moment and lead to mob lynching. Hence, they drove their vehicle up the hospital ramps.
The vehicle's entry into the emergency ward created havoc as the hospital staff panicked to clear the way for the SUV. Patients' beds and stretchers had to be removed quickly allowing the car to pass. Nevertheless, the cops didn't stop and ensured they reached their target.
AIIMS director Prof. Meenu Singh while talking to the media, said that there were obstacles when the SUV tried to exit the building after the arrest and that's why a passage had to be created through the area that is originally used as an Emergency Ward Triage. The vehicle had to move slowly and the security guards were also there ensuring patients are asked to move away. Thankfully, nobody was injured.
In the following days, state Women’s Commission chairperson Kusum Kandwal went to the AIIMS hospital and met the victim, as well as the Dean, Dr Jaya Chaturvedi, and other women doctors.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Aditi Madathingal/MSM)
