India: Cleaners arrested for dressing up as doctors and molesting female COVID-19 patients

Patna: Two cleaning staff dressed in PPE kits entered a COVID-19 ward in Jharkhand state posing as doctors and allegedly molested female patients, triggering wide outrage. Police have arrested both and sent them to jail.

The incident took place at a centre set up at a polytechnic college in Godda district on late Friday evening. This centre has been opened exclusively for females from rural areas infected with COVID-19.

According to the victims, two youths dressed in PPE kits barged into the centre late Friday evening and asked the female patients to move into the next room one by one for their health check. They told the patients that they have come from New Delhi for their special health check. The victims didn’t suspect their vile intentions.

However, as the female patients went into the adjacent room, the accused persons began behaving strangely and touched various parts of their bodies. A few female patients protested strongly and asked why they were touching their body while the doctors always advised them to maintain physical distance from everyone. Noticing their anger, the accused instantly fled the scene.

Local police rushed to the spot and began investigation. The police finally arrested the accused the very next morning who turned out to be the cleaning staff employed by an outsourcing company.

“We have arrested both the accused persons and sent them to jail. We have also tightened the security arrangement at the Covid ward,” the local police station in-charge JK Jaisawal said.