A National Commission for Women (NCW) member visited a hospital in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district on Saturday, where a female staffer recently reported a rape. Archana Majumdar, the NCW representative, checked out the Panskura Super-specialty Hospital and raised serious concerns about weak security and spotty surveillance there.
Majumdar talked with the hospital’s superintendent, doctors, and other staff to get the full story on the alleged attack. After her visit, she told reporters that the hospital’s CCTV setup falls short. “The authorities say they have 40 cameras and have requested 50 more,” she explained. “But key spots like the maternity ward only have two cameras. There’s nothing covering the doctors’ restroom or outside the operating theater. It’s just not enough to keep everyone safe.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Majumdar shared shocking details from the day. She said more than 40 women, including two rape survivors, came forward to share their stories with her. One mother spoke about her daughter’s sexual exploitation back in 2008 by the same suspect. “Years of abuse, religious harassment, a hospital syndicate, and total indifference from administrators—it’s heartbreaking,” she wrote. “Even after the RG Kar hospital tragedy, the system isn’t changing.”
Majumdar stressed that the NCW will keep a close eye on the case. “We must protect women working in hospitals,” she added. “Strong surveillance, real accountability, and solid security aren’t optional—they’re essential.”
The trouble started on September 14, when a contractual female medical staffer accused the hospital’s manager, Zahir Abbas Khan, of raping her. Police arrested Khan based on her complaint at Panskura Police Station. He headed the contractor company that employed the victim and had threatened to kill her if she spoke out.
Soon after, other women from the hospital came forward, saying Khan would summon them to his room for sexual abuse. The allegations surfaced publicly on September 15, leading to his arrest in Kolaghat, about 15 kilometers from the hospital.
The next day, Tuesday, staff staged huge protests at the hospital. They claimed earlier complaints about Khan went ignored by the medical superintendent.
Majumdar also demanded answers on Khan’s past. “How did this man, jailed 17 years ago for raping a minor, get acquitted? Who covered it up?” she asked. “And how did he build these syndicates inside the hospital? The state government, health department, and police show major negligence here—we need a full probe.”
On Friday, the East Midnapore District Health Department stepped in, forming a five-member investigation committee. It includes three female health officials and a female lawyer. Team members visited the Panskura Super-specialty Hospital that day and met with the superintendent to dig deeper into the rape incident and broader safety issues.
This case highlights ongoing worries about women’s safety in healthcare settings across India, especially after recent high-profile hospital scandals.
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