Rapist doctor arrested, sacked 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.

The accused doctor has been sacked, Secretary Health K B Jandial told UNI.

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

He said the girl, a resident of Sopore lodged a written report in Police Station Handwara to the effect that on December 27, she was on way from Sopore to her maternal aunt' residence at Handwara in a private bus when she felt acute pain in her left kidney.

The passengers stopped the vehicle near PHC Chogal for first aid where the girl was admitted.

The girl was provided immediate first aid and dextrose by Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat on duty, the SP said adding the girl was admitted in the general ward by the doctor and put on dextrose drip along with other medicines.

''On 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 would not get aware of the facts and circumstance,'' he said.

On the same day due to bleeding and continuous renal pain on way to Handwara she reached District Hospital Handwara where she narrated the whole episode to police and Hospital staff, Dr Mughal said.

Accordingly on the receipt of 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.

He said it was found that the entries in records of the PHC were not made because of ''evil designs'' of the doctor.

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

In this connection, the staff on duty in the PHC including sweepers and Ambulance driver were also questioned and confirmed that the girl was indeed in the hospital on that day and involvement of the doctor in the commission of this heinous crime.

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

UNI