Doctor Faces Rape Threat and Assault: The alarming incident at Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College and Hospital in Uluberia, Howrah, has reignited the debate over women’s safety in healthcare institutions across West Bengal. A 28-year-old junior doctor, who was on duty at the hospital’s obstetrics ward, was physically assaulted, verbally abused, and threatened with rape by a group of men — reportedly relatives of a patient — on Monday evening. The incident has sparked outrage in the medical community, leading to protests, arrests, and a renewed call for stricter hospital security.
The Assault Inside the Hospital Ward
According to the complaint filed by the survivor, the attack took place on the evening of October 18, when she was attending to a pregnant patient from Kharia Maynapur village. The doctor was conducting routine antenatal checks when a group of around 15 individuals, including male relatives of the patient, barged into the ward.
As per her statement, the relatives demanded immediate delivery procedures despite the patient not being in active labour. When the doctor tried to explain the situation, one of the men — later identified as Sheikh Babulal, a traffic home guard from Howrah — grabbed her arm, pulled her hair, and pushed her against a table, hurling threats that she would not “return home alive.”
Witnesses said that the mob surrounded the doctor, shouting accusations of negligence. One of them allegedly made a rape threat, saying, “We’ll show you what happens to careless doctors.” The terrified doctor managed to alert her colleagues and security staff, after which hospital authorities called the Uluberia Police Station.
Read official statement from the West Bengal Police
Swift Police Action: Traffic Home Guard and Accomplices Arrested
Following the complaint, police launched an immediate manhunt. Within hours, they arrested Sheikh Babulal, the traffic home guard, and Sheikh Hasibul, another relative of the patient. Later, a third suspect — Sheikh Samrat — was detained after police reviewed CCTV footage from the hospital premises.
According to Howrah (Rural) Superintendent of Police Sayan Roy, all three have been booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (criminal intimidation), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Preliminary interrogation revealed that Babulal allegedly used his position as a home guard to intimidate hospital staff, claiming he could “get anyone transferred.”
Full IPC text for Section 354 and 506
Hospital Administration and Health Department Response
The West Bengal Health Department has sought a detailed report from the hospital authorities and ordered an internal inquiry. Sources said that the Health Secretary has instructed that enhanced security measures be deployed immediately, particularly in wards where female doctors are posted at night.
The superintendent of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Medical College stated that the accused were outsiders and that the hospital will cooperate fully with the police investigation. “The safety of our doctors is paramount. We will ensure that such incidents are not repeated,” he said.
The incident also prompted the Indian Medical Association (IMA) West Bengal to issue a statement condemning the attack. “This kind of violence against doctors cannot be tolerated. We demand immediate exemplary punishment and better infrastructure for security in hospitals,” said IMA president Dr. Arindam Dutta.
Visit the Indian Medical Association website
Doctors’ Outrage and Statewide Protests
The assault has triggered widespread anger among doctors across the state. Junior doctors at R.G. Kar Medical College and S.S.K.M. Hospital in Kolkata staged a symbolic protest demanding justice for their colleague. Many wore black badges and raised slogans such as “Safety for doctors is not a privilege, it’s a right.”
The Service Doctors’ Forum (SDF) released a statement calling the incident “a chilling reminder of the 2024 R.G. Kar horror,” where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered. “This Uluberia case shows that despite all assurances, hospitals remain unsafe for women doctors. We demand strict enforcement of the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act to ensure staff protection,” said Dr. Sabyasachi Banerjee, SDF general secretary.
Check official West Bengal Clinical Establishment Rules
Political Fallout and Government Accountability
The attack has sparked a political storm in West Bengal. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of failing to protect women, alleging that law and order in hospitals has collapsed. “Even doctors are not safe in Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal. A woman doctor faces a rape threat inside a government hospital — this is the state’s shame,” he said in a public statement.
In response, TMC leaders condemned the attack but rejected political blame. Howrah District TMC President Pulak Roy said, “The incident is shameful. The government has already acted, arrests have been made. This is not about politics — it’s about justice.”
The Health Minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya, met the assaulted doctor via video call, assuring her of state protection and counselling support. “We will not tolerate any form of violence against doctors. The culprits will be punished severely,” she said.
Follow West Bengal Health Department updates
Safety Concerns for Women Doctors Across the State
This incident has once again highlighted the deep-seated vulnerability faced by women doctors in government hospitals. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cases of harassment and assault of medical staff in India have risen sharply in the last five years.
A study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in 2023 found that over 75% of doctors in public hospitals had faced verbal abuse, and nearly 10% reported physical assault during their service. Many incidents go unreported due to fear of backlash or lack of administrative support.
The Uluberia case has reignited calls for hospital policing units — dedicated security forces within medical campuses. Health activists argue that CCTV cameras, panic alarms, and rapid response teams must be made mandatory in every ward, especially where female doctors are on duty.
Explore NCRB Crime Data on Violence Against Women
Psychological Impact and Support for the Survivor
Trauma experts stress that beyond physical safety, the emotional toll of such threats is immense. “The experience of being threatened with rape in one’s workplace is psychologically scarring,” said Dr. Rita Chatterjee, a psychiatrist specializing in workplace trauma.
The Health Department has reportedly arranged for counselling sessions for the survivor. The West Bengal State Commission for Women has also taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and will monitor the investigation’s progress.
Visit West Bengal Women’s Commission official site
Doctor Faces Rape Threat and Assault: Legal Experts on the Case
Senior advocate Nilanjana Bose stated that the use of a rape threat against a woman doctor on duty constitutes a grave criminal offence under Section 354A and Section 509 of the IPC. “If proven, the accused may face imprisonment of up to seven years,” she said.
Bose also emphasised the need for special fast-track courts for crimes committed against healthcare workers, similar to those for crimes against women and children under the POCSO Act framework.
Learn more about POCSO and women protection laws
Hospital Security Audit and Preventive Measures
Following the incident, the Uluberia hospital has ordered a comprehensive security audit. The administration plans to install more CCTV cameras, create restricted access zones, and introduce biometric entry systems for visitors.
The hospital has also proposed the appointment of dedicated police personnel for night shifts, a measure already adopted at major institutions like NRS Medical College and R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata after previous assaults on doctors.
Experts argue that security reform in hospitals cannot remain reactive. “Every assault case prompts temporary vigilance, but systemic change is absent. A culture of deterrence must be built through visible security presence and legal accountability,” said healthcare activist Sougata Mitra.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Investigation
Public outrage continues to mount, with citizens, doctors, and students expressing solidarity through online campaigns under hashtags like #JusticeForUluberiaDoctor and #ProtectDoctors.
Meanwhile, the police investigation is ongoing. Statements from hospital staff and CCTV footage are being analysed to determine whether there was any security lapse or insider negligence.
The accused have been remanded in judicial custody, and the court has ordered the police to submit a preliminary charge sheet within 15 days.
Follow Calcutta High Court proceedings and updates
Conclusion: A Call for Systemic Change
The Uluberia Government Hospital rape threat case is not just an isolated assault — it is a mirror reflecting the everyday dangers faced by women professionals in public service. The fact that a uniformed home guard was among the accused highlights the erosion of accountability within the state’s own institutions.
For meaningful reform, the government must:
- Establish 24×7 hospital police outposts.
- Ensure gender-sensitive training for security and staff.
- Make panic buttons and surveillance cameras mandatory in all wards.
- Implement strict legal consequences for anyone threatening or assaulting medical staff.
Unless such measures are institutionalized, the safety of healthcare workers — particularly women — will remain precarious, and public trust in the system will continue to erode.
For verified information and ongoing updates:
- West Bengal Police Official Site
- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
- West Bengal Health & Family Welfare Department
- National Commission for Women
- Legislative Department of India – IPC Text
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