A Kerala health inspector was arrested on charges of raping a 44-year-old nurse who approached him to obtain a negative certificate for coronavirus, police said.
The woman had been ordered to self-quarantine last month after she returned home to the state capital from northern Kerala, where she worked as a home nurse. She had tested negative after the two-week quarantine, but needed the negative certificate to return to work as a nurse.
This is the second rape incident involving a state employee working in the healthcare sector. Last Saturday, a 22-year-old woman complained that the driver of a state ambulance service charged with taking her to the hospital raped her on the way.
The nurse told police that when she approached the junior health inspector after his quarantine period ended, he insisted that she meet him at his home in Pangode, Thiruvananthapuram district. According to her complaint, when she went, he forced her to spend the day with him and raped her. She alleged that he threatened to tell police that he had skipped the quarantine if he did not comply. He also attacked her.
Inspector P Suneesh, who is investigating the case, said the health official also physically assaulted her.
“A medical examination confirmed the sexual assault. He was booked under different sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, illegal detention and assault, ”said the police officer.
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said the state government would crack down on the attacker.
“Health workers are working hard these days. But such unfortunate incidents will make a negative impression and portray your work in a bad light. We will take strict action against offenders and ensure that these sad incidents are not repeated, ”said Shailaja.
On Saturday night, a young patient was allegedly sexually assaulted by an ambulance driver in the Pathanamthitta district of central Kerala on his way to a hospital. The suspect was arrested a few hours after the crime that sparked a war of words between the ruling party and the opposition. The opposition Congress and the BJP have requested the resignation of the Minister of Health.
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