A woman in her 20s, who was reportedly sexually assaulted by a fellow patient while admitted to a government hospital in northeast Delhi, passed away during treatment on Wednesday, triggering public outrage and calls for accountability.
The woman, who lived alone in northeast Delhi, was admitted to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital last week after being found unconscious and allegedly intoxicated by her neighbors. Police confirmed that the hospital informed them on Monday about the assault by a male patient sharing the same ward. She was later transferred to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, where she succumbed to her condition two days later.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Ashish Mishra stated, “The initial medical report suggested intoxication and unconsciousness. Further investigation will depend on the autopsy findings.”
The accused, identified as Mohammed Faiz from Kachchi Khajuri, was arrested shortly after the incident came to light. A case has been registered at the New Usmanpur police station. However, police sources indicate that preliminary findings do not establish a direct link between the assault and the woman’s death. A post-mortem report is awaited to determine the exact cause.
The tragic incident has raised questions about patient safety and security in public hospitals, with demands for stricter surveillance and gender-sensitive ward allocations.
