Police in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district arrested Garbeta’s Block Medical Officer of Health, Prabir Kumar Bauri, after a nurse alleged that he sexually harassed and assaulted her at his office, according to a report by Anandabazar. The accused official was produced before a Garbeta court on Monday, October 12.
The nurse, who is responsible for a health centre in Garbeta, had gone to the BMOH’s office on Thursday to collect official documents, the report said. She alleged that Bauri first proposed a romantic relationship and then sexually harassed her. She further alleged that he assaulted her after she declined the proposal.
The complaint also stated that the official had allegedly made inappropriate proposals to her several times earlier. The nurse initially hesitated to approach the police but later filed a written complaint at Garbeta police station on Sunday after consulting her family.
Police began investigating after receiving the complaint. According to police sources cited in the report, the accused official allegedly attempted to flee, following which several police teams were formed to search for him. He was arrested on Sunday night.
The case places scrutiny on the internal safeguards available to healthcare workers dealing with senior administrative officials in government health facilities. The allegation concerns conduct inside the official workplace and involves a reporting relationship within the public health administration, although the investigation and court proceedings will determine the facts.
Paschim Medinipur’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Soumya Shankar Sarengi, said the health department would conduct a departmental inquiry. He also said that multiple complaints had previously been received against the doctor and that the health department had taken action at that time.
The police investigation and the departmental inquiry are now proceeding separately. The accused official’s arrest and court appearance mark the immediate legal steps reported in the case, while the health department’s inquiry is expected to examine the allegations and any earlier complaints against him.
