Kollam ESI Hospital nursing officer arrested for alleged sexual assault of minor

Kollam: A 38-year-old nursing officer at the ESI Hospital in Asramam has been arrested by the Kollam East Police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl inside the hospital lift.

The alleged incident took place in the early hours of September 8, when the teenager entered the hospital lift to reach a ward. According to the police, the nursing officer entered the lift along with her and allegedly subjected her to sexual assault while they were inside.

The girl immediately informed her mother about the alleged incident. The two subsequently approached the Kollam East Police and lodged a complaint, following which police began efforts to trace the accused.

Police said the accused allegedly went into hiding after the complaint was lodged. Investigators eventually traced him to the hospital premises and took him into custody on the night of September 9.

The accused was later produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the POCSO Act.

According to a report by The Hindu, the accused has been identified as a native of Poonthura, Thiruvananthapuram, who works as a nurse at the hospital and is also a YouTuber. He was taken into custody by the Kollam East Police.

Onmanorama reported, "The girl’s family alleged that they initially approached the hospital superintendent with a complaint, but the superintendent ignored their concerns and took no immediate action. Frustrated by the administration's lack of response, the family approached the Kollam East police. Officers swiftly recorded the teenager's statement and arrested Migdad later that night. The court has since remanded him to judicial custody.

Police launched efforts to locate the nursing officer after receiving the complaint, with the investigation focusing on establishing the sequence of events inside the hospital and verifying the allegations made by the minor. The police are also examining available evidence and other circumstances relevant to the case as part of the ongoing probe.