Odisha Paediatrician held for allegedly molesting 15-year-old tribal girl during checkup

Baripada: In a shocking incident, a pediatrician working at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (PRMMCH) in Mayurbhanj district, has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 15-year-old tribal girl during her checkup. 

Chaos erupted at the MCH when the girl accused the doctor of touching her inappropriately, which angered her family members leading to a heated argument with the doctor. As a result of the argument, other attendants and hospital staff gathered to observe the situation.

The 15-year-old tribal girl is a student at a tribal residential school near Baripada town and a resident of the Badasahi area in the Mayurbhanj district.

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The incident occurred when the girl who lives in a tribal hostel here complained of sudden chest pain. The matron after checking the girl's serious condition alerted her parents. On Monday, the girl was taken to MCH by her mother and the matron.

While they were waiting at the OPD of the hospital, the girl was asked by the doctor to come alone to the chamber for a checkup. When the girl went inside and lay down on the bed for a checkup, the doctor allegedly touched the girl inappropriately and molested her.

Petrified of the situation, the girl rushed out crying and explained to her mother about the situation accusing the doctor of inappropriately touching her during the checkup. When confronted about the alleged misbehaviour, the doctor denied the accusation and started arguing with the mother.

Justifying his action, the doctor said " a doctor can conduct a check-up on a patient as he wants." Following this, the mother along with other family members went to the Baripada police station and lodged a complaint against the doctor in the evening.

The police then registered an FIR on Tuesday under 354, 354 (A), 294 of the IPC along with 3 (1) (R) (S) (W) (I) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act-2015 and arrested the accused.

As per TNIE reports, It was also mentioned in their complaint that the doctor was drunk during her checkup and intentionally molested her.

"He was arrested and produced in Special POCSO Court. Later he was remanded in judicial custody after his bail application was rejected," said IIC Birendra Senapati.

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