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Woman patient molested again at Kozhikode MCH

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE OCT. 15. The police today arrested Nadakkal Prem Kumar, radiographer in Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH), on charges of alleged sexual assault on a young woman patient at the hospital.

Prem Kumar was produced before the First Class Judicial Magistrate at Thamarassery in the afternoon and later released on bail.

The accused was arrested on the basis of a statement given by the victim that she was molested while being administered radiation treatment at the Department of Radiotherapy at 6 p.m. on October 14.

The police have filed a case against him under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The police arrived at the hospital and took the statement after a complaint was registered by the Medical College Hospital superintendent, Thomas Varghese, on Monday.

Hospital sources said that Dr. Varghese placed the accused, Prem Kumar, and the attender, Sudha, under suspension for alleged dereliction of duty.

Prompt action was taken after the Resident Medical Officer (RMO), Shyam, gave a preliminary inquiry report on the incident. The Head of the Department of Radiotherapy, Zubaida, was also conducting a comprehensive probe into the episode, sources added.

The inquiry said that prima facie evidence was reported to have been found against the accused. The attender, Sudha, was not in the room when radiation was being administered. The bystander remained outside the laboratory.

A native of Thikoddi, Prem Kumar has been with the Department of Radiotherapy run by the Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society (KHRWS) at the MCH, for the last three and a half years.

Meanwhile the hospital authorities shifted the patient to a special unit at the Savitri Sabu Memorial Ward of the hospital. Security personnel have also been posted for the victim. Sources said that the 19-year old victim, a native of Tamil Nadu, was employed as a maid at Thalassery in Kannur district and was undergoing treatment for chondrosarcoma (hip bone cancer) at ward 40 of the Radiotherapy Department of the MCH.

Orthopaedic treatment was already complete and for the last 10 days she was undergoing radiation therapy. A home nurse was taking care of the patient at the hospital.

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