NCW Member Visits West Bengal Hospital After Female Staff Allegedly Raped by Colleague

Quick Summary

• Dr. Archana Majumdar, a member of the National Commission of Women (NCW), visited Panskura Super Speciality Hospital in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, following allegations of rape and sexual abuse by a senior staff member.
• The accused, Zahir Abbas Khan, allegedly raped a contractual hospital staff member on September 14 and was arrested soon after public allegations surfaced on September 15.
• Dr. Majumdar reported evidence of years-long sexual exploitation within the hospital and stated that over 40 women deposed before her during her visit to the facility. Past incidents from as far back as 2008 were brought forward by victims’ families.
• security lapses at the hospital were flagged during the NCW investigation. Allegations included exploitation tied to broader issues involving religious discrimination and administrative neglect within the system.
• chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized NCW for selectively focusing on Bengal while ignoring similar incidents in BJP-led states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
• Congress State President Shubhankar Sarkar called for an impartial investigation into all sexual abuse allegations at Panskura Hospital.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The alleged series of abuses at Panskura Hospital highlights systemic gaps in workplace protections for women in India’s healthcare sector-a critical concern given their role as frontline workers nationwide. The National Commission for Women’s intervention brings much-needed attention but also sparks questions about its selectivity across regional administrations, underscored by criticisms from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding political bias.

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