Hospital Administrator Detained Following Sexual Assault Claims at Bengal Super Specialty Hospital
In a shocking turn of events, Zahir Abbas Khan, the facility manager at Panskura Super Speciality Hospital in West Bengal, was arrested on Monday following a rape complaint filed by a female medical staffer.
The incident, which allegedly occurred on Sunday night, September 14, at the hospital premises, has sparked widespread protests demanding justice and accountability. Protesters accused the hospital's medical superintendent of failing to act on earlier warnings about Khan's behavior, while rights groups and medical associations are demanding not only justice for the survivor but also systemic reforms to protect female healthcare workers in government institutions.
The rape revives painful memories of the rape and murder of a female doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024, which had sparked months-long protests in Kolkata. In a related case, former Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2025 for the same heinous crime.
Khan, who was supervised by a private facility management agency hired by the East Midnapore hospital, had allegedly enjoyed political protection in the region, according to local BJP leaders. However, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh distanced the ruling party from the incident and called for a thorough police investigation.
The Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, expressed solidarity with the victims and claimed that his party's protests contributed to Khan's arrest. The hospital's medical superintendent, on the other hand, has denied knowledge of prior complaints regarding Khan's behavior.
Multiple women working at the hospital have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by Khan, spanning over four to five years. Khan, during his arrest, claimed innocence and called the charges against him a conspiracy. The superintendent of Panskura Super Speciality Hospital expressed outrage over the alleged rape incident and called for the harshest punishment for the perpetrator.
The case is currently under investigation, and it remains to be seen how the authorities will handle the allegations and ensure justice for the survivor. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for stricter measures to protect female healthcare workers and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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