Staff ‘misbehaves’ with woman patient in Cuttack SCB hospital ICU, arrested

A disturbing case of alleged ‘misbehaviour’ emerged on Tuesday from the government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack.

Also Read: Sexual harassment at Cuttack hospital; accused official held

The accused has been identified as Manas Pati, who hails from Jajpur district. He was residing in a rented house at Machhua Bazaar locality of Cuttack.

According to sources, a female patient was allegedly misbehaved with two days ago by a staff inside Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the health facility. The victim woman was previously admitted to the ICU in Medicine Ward.

The matter came to the fore after it was reported at Mangalabag Police Station today.

Acting on an FIR lodged by the woman’s mother in this connection, Mangalabag police have arrested the accused employee and launched a detailed probe into the accusations. Accused Manas was forwarded to court later in the day.

The accused was engaged in SCBMCH by a private manpower consultancy firm.

At night, around 9.00 PM to 9.15 PM, Manas was shifting another patient to elsewhere in the hospital, when the victim woman asked him for water to drink. Allegedly, on the pretext of giving her water, he misbehaved with her. The victim woman narrated her plight to her mother the next morning.

No comments were received from the victim woman or local police in this regard.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, a case of sexual harassment had surfaced from a health centre under Cuttack Sadar police limits on August 7 this year.

A married public health manager of the hospital had been accused by a woman doctor and a woman pharmacist of sustained sexual and mental harassment over months.

As per the complaint, Sahu had allegedly made lewd remarks and subjected the two women employees to physical and mental harassment over the past several months. Despite repeated objections raised by the victims, the harassment had continued unabated.

The pharmacist, in particular, had alleged that Sahu, who is married, persistently proposed a romantic relationship to her. Adding to the gravity of the allegations, Sahu was accused of threatening the women with job transfers, claiming he had strong connections with senior health officials.