Doctor arrested for raping girl in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 29 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Police today arrested a doctor on charges of raping a teenaged girl at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Chogal in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

Assistant surgeon Ajaz Rasool Bhat was arrested on the complaint by a class 11th student, that she was raped by him while undergoing treatment at the health centre, Handwara Superintendent of Police Haseeb Mughal said.

He said the victim, Shafeeqa of Sopore (names changed) lodged a written report in Handwara Police Station that on December 27 when she was on way from Sopore to her maternal aunt's residence at Handwara in a private bus, she felt acute left side renal pain.

The passengers stopped the vehicle near PHC Chogal for first aid and the girl got herself admitted there, the police officer said.

Immediate first aid and dextrose was provided to the girl by Dr Bhat who was on duty, Mr Mughal said adding ''the girl was admitted in the general ward by the doctor and dextrose drip continued with other medicines till late as per written complaint of teenaged patient.'' ''The next morning she found herself in the duty doctor's bedroom and the doctor compelled her to leave the hospital immediately so that other employees do not get to know the facts and circumstance,'' he said.

The SP Handwara said the girl faced acute vaginal pain and was bleeding when she was made to leave the hospital by the doctor.

On the same day, due to bleeding and continuous renal pain she reached District Hospital Handwara, where she narrated the whole incident to police and hospital staff, Mr Mughal said.

On recieving the complaint, the SP said a case was registered and during investigation it was ascertained that the girl patient was raped by the doctor on duty.

The girl was sent for medical checkup, which confirmed rape, he added.

SP Handwara said the staff on duty including sweepers and ambulance driver were also questioned, in this connection and they confirmed that the girl was in the hospital on that day and Dr Bhat had comitted the crime.

The doctor has been arrested and the statement of the girl has been recorded before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Handwara, the police officer said.

UNI