Bihar: COVID-19 Positive Woman Allegedly Sexually Abused at Private Hospital’s ICU

Patna: Amid news about the havoc wreaked by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a shocking incident has come to light in Bihar’s Patna. A 45-year-old COVID-19 positive woman, who was undergoing treatment at the ICU in a reputed private hospital in the city was reportedly sexually abused on the night of May 16.

The tragic incident came to light on Monday, when the patient’s young daughter met her in the hospital, where her mother told her about her pain.

According to the victim's daughter, her mother who was admitted to the hospital 15 days earlier for COVID-19 treatment, was tightly tied to the bed with a rope by the accused. “When I visited her, I found that she was tied with rope. So I asked her and she explained that she was sexually abused by four men.”

The patient’s daughter has also made two videos recording the woman’s statement about the incident.

The local police visited the hospital after the videos were shared on social media. According to the police, investigation has been started in the reported case. Shashtri Nagar police station officer incharge, Ramashamkar Singh said that police have not received any written complaint but a police team led by a woman police officer was sent to the hospital to inquire into the incident.

“Police team has been investigating and will look into CCTV footage to ascertain the allegations of sexual abuse of a COVID-19 patient inside the hospital,” he further said.

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities, doctors and nursing staff of the hospital where the woman is undergoing treatment have claimed that the patient is mentally disturbed, which may be the reason behind her allegations.

This is not the first such reported case in a hospital in Bihar during the ongoing second wave of COVID-19.

Last week, a woman had alleged that she was molested by the hospital staff in Bhagalpur district where her husband was admired in an ICU and battling for life. In a short video that has gone viral on social media, she narrated her painful story. The woman can be heard saying, “A hospital attendant at Bhagalpur pulled my dupatta (scarf) and put his hand around my waist promising he will take care of my husband who was admitted at the hospital for treatment of lung infection.”

Later the police reportedly arrested the accused.