Patna: An under-trial woman prisoner was allegedly gang-raped at a government hospital in Bihar where she had been admitted for treatment, raising a big question mark over the prevailing law and order situation in the state. Angry opposition lawmakers on Friday created a ruckus in the state assembly over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and demanded imposition of President’s rule in Bihar.
As per the report, the woman lodged in Sitamarhi jail was admitted to the local hospital for her treatment earlier this month but after finding no improvement in her health condition, she was moved to the neighbouring Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) located in Muzaffarpur district on November 11.
She received the biggest shock of her life when she was dragged inside the washroom by two security guards on duty who allegedly gang-raped her. The incident took place on the night of November 14 when she had gone to the toilet.
“I had gone to the toilet when two security guards dragged me inside the washroom and gang-raped me,” the victim said in her complaint petition. The victim was lodged in the jail in connection with a kidnapping case.
The entire incident came to light after the victim prisoner was sent back to the Sitamarhi district prison on November 22 after her condition improved. Reports said soon after reaching the prison, she narrated her horrific tale to the jail superintendent Rajesh Kumar Rai who reported the matter to the local police which later registered a case.
“We have registered the case and the matter is being investigated,” senior superintendent of police, Muzaffarpur, Manoj Kumar told the media on Friday.
The incident triggered strong protests in the Bihar House as angry opposition lawmakers created a ruckus in the both Houses of state legislature over the government’s failure to check such incidents. “The law and order situation has totally collapsed in the state and the President’s rule is the only solution,” former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said.
Senior Congress lawmaker Premchandra Mishra too came down on the state government. “Law and order situation in Bihar has touched its nadir and nobody is safe in the state. Even the patients admitted to the hospitals are not safe. Is this good governance?” asked Mishra.
The state government today announced to initiate severe punitive action against the accused. “The incident is very serious. The matter is being investigated and severe punitive action will be taken after the probe,” Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey told the media on Friday.
The incident is a throwback to the sex scandal reported from a child care home located in the same district. At least 34 girls were allegedly gang-raped at the government-funded Muzaffarpur care home being run by a Non-governmental hospital headed by Brajesh Thakur, now lodged in Patiala jail. The matter is currently being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Taking a serious note of the failure of the state police in properly investigating such cases, the Supreme Court has now transferred the remaining 16 cases related to care home sexual abuse to the CBI. The top court is monitoring the ongoing investigation into the care home sex scandals.
