A RELATIVE of a patient at Chanchal Super Specialty Hospital in Malda district has been arrested for allegedly threatening a nurse, police said on Sunday. The incident comes weeks after the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, which has highlighted concerns about the safety of healthcare workers.

The suspect, Arif Ali, was taken into custody after allegedly making threats and using “racially discriminatory language” towards a woman nurse, officers said. “You will understand if you face same fate like in RG Kar [incident],” Ali allegedly told a nurse. The incident occurred on Saturday night amid an argument over a chair.

The hospital superintendent, Mohammad Shamim, said the accused was arrested following a complaint filed by the hospital authorities. He emphasized that the patient’s family did not raise any concerns about the medical care provided.

Local TMC MLA and state minister Tajmul Hossain has condemned the incident.

Sources said a patient was admitted to the hospital on Saturday with issues related to low haemoglobin levels.

The suspect (patient’s relative) started arguing with the nurse on duty over taking a chair inside the male ward. A woman nurse and hospital sister in-charge tried to intervene but the matter esclated.

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