Another doctor harassed at Kolkata Medical College
The Statesman | 1 November 2025
Barely a week after the state government convened a high-level meeting to tighten security in hospitals, another shocking incident of harassment has been reported, this time from Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.
According to hospital sources, a woman intern doctor was allegedly harassed by an inebriated man inside the emergency ward late on Wednesday night. The accused, brought in by the police in a drunken state for medical attention, allegedly made lewd remarks and obscene gestures at the young doctor while she was on duty. Visibly shaken, the intern reportedly broke down and left the emergency unit, later seeking help from the police personnel present on the premises.
However, she did not receive any immediate assistance, prompting outrage among her colleagues. As news of the incident spread, other medical students and interns gathered to protest, demanding strict action against the accused and immediate enhancement of campus security. The situation quickly escalated, with agitated students surrounding the principal’s office, alleging gross negligence by both the hospital authorities and the police on duty. Additional police forces were called in to restore order on the campus. Sources said that police officials have assured the students that security will be strengthened at night and additional personnel will be deployed.
The incident comes close on the heels of another shocking case at SSKM Hospital earlier this month, where a minor girl was allegedly molested inside a men’s toilet by an outsider. That case had triggered widespread outrage among the medical fraternity across the state, leading to protests, sit-ins, and strikes by junior doctors demanding better protection at government hospitals.
In response to the growing unrest, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had convened an emergency meeting last Saturday, chaired by chief secretary Manoj Pant. During the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed concern over repeated incidents of assault and harassment inside hospitals, warning officials that “such lapses cannot be tolerated.”
Till Wednesday evening, no arrests had been confirmed in connection with the latest incident, though police said the matter is under active investigation.