New Delhi [India], June 2 : The National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Monday strongly condemned the "gross negligence and systemic failures" that led to the tragic death of a minor Dalit rape victim in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, who was kept waiting in an ambulance for over four hours without medical attention.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, Rahatkar directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) of Bihar to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the case, demanding immediate action against those responsible and a detailed action-taken report within three days.
"Taking suo motu cognisance of the tragic death of a minor Dalit rape victim in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, who was kept waiting in an ambulance for over four hours without medical attention, the Chairperson, NCW, Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, has strongly condemned the gross negligence and systemic failures involved. She has directed the Chief Secretary and DGP to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the case, as well as into the role of hospital authorities and police in this tragic lapse. Immediate action must be taken against those found guilty of dereliction of duty. A detailed action-taken report must be submitted to the Commission within three days," the NCW stated on X.
https://x.com/NCWIndia/status/1929461328340759038
Earlier on Sunday, according to the incharge Superintedent Dr Abhijit Singh of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), a 10-year-old girl who was raped and sustained brutal injuries in an assault died there.
The girl was initially treated at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur on May 26 and had severe neck and internal injuries.
The Incharge Superintendent of PMCH, Patna, told ANI, "The girl was admitted at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur on 26th May. She had neck injuries and internal injuries... After she arrived here, the doctor examined her in the ambulance. She was taken to the ICU, and doctors from all departments treated her for the entire night."
The minor girl's uncle, Virendra Paswan, has, however, alleged negligence on the part of the hospital administration and doctors, stating that she was kept waiting for two hours inside the ambulance before getting admission to the hospital.
"The doctors referred us to Patna, but we didn't like it there either. It's not a good hospital. Yesterday, we came, and we waited for three hours in an ambulance. When everyone started creating a ruckus, they admitted her at 4 o'clock. There was no convenience for anything. The child was uneasy and started crying at night. The doctors got upset and gave sleeping medicine to the child all night long and at eight o'clock in the morning, she died," Paswan told ANI on Sunday.
Dr Abhijit Singh, in-Charge Superintendent of PMCH Patna, has, however, denied allegations of negligence on the part of the hospital administration.
The girl's uncle further alleged that despite being a Government hospital, he had to spend a sum of Rs 25,000.
Additionally, he alleged that the accused lured her on the pretext of offering chocolate near her aunt's house and then took her to a maize field and raped her there.