Srinagar: Shock and awe has descended on Kashmir after a doctor allegedly raped a 16-year-old patient in the hospital at Chogal-Handwara in the border district of Kuwpara. The police have arrested the accused doctor and registered a case under section 376 of Ranbir Panel Code (RPC).

Jammu and Kashmir government too has stepped in and terminated the services of the doctor. Superintendent of Police (SP), Handwara, Haseeb Mughal said the arrest was made after the victim lodged a report in the police station. She complained that she was raped by assistant surgeon Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat after she was admitted in the hospital for severe renal pain. “She was admitted at the hospital after she developed pain while travelling from Sopore to Handwara in a bus.

Seeing her condition, the passengers stopped the vehicle near the Primary Health Centre, Chogal and got her admitted,” said Dr Haseeb. The SP said she was given first aid by Dr Ajaz, who was on duty at that time and shifted to general ward. “The next morning, however, she found herself in the doctor’s bed room. The doctor compelled her to leave the hospital immediately.

But she was suffering from acute pain and was bleeding profusely. She later went to district hospital Handwara and informed the doctors about the episode,” he said. The doctors of the hospital informed the police. Bhat was then arrested. “The girl was sent for gynaecological checkup which confirmed rape. During investigation it was ascertained that the accused doctor had not made any entries in record-book to cover-up the incident,” Mughal said.

The SP said they have questioned the staff on duty including sweepers and the ambulance driver who also confirmed that the girl was indeed in the hospital on that day. “In this regard the statement of the girl has also been recorded before the court of chief judicial magistrate,” he said. As the news of the incident reached the area, the people took to streets demanding severe punishment for the doctor. Facing heat, the directorate of health service immediately terminated the services of the accused doctor.

Source : DNAIndia