Attempted molestation of female doctor in Coimbatore sparks outrage and protests amid safety concerns

As the nation rallies behind the call for justice in the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, a similar incident in Coimbatore has left residents of Tamil Nadu shocked and concerned for the safety of female medical professionals. On the evening of August 14, a migrant worker was arrested after attempting to molest a female house surgeon at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

The incident occurred around 9:30 PM when the young doctor, a house surgeon, was heading to the two-wheeler parking lot situated between the administrative block and the centenary building, which houses her hostel. As she approached her scooter, a man, later identified as 25-year-old Mayank Galar from Madhya Pradesh, allegedly approached her after undressing himself and attempted to molest her.

According to police reports, the courageous doctor managed to push down the assailant and escape, alerting the hospital authorities to the situation. “On hearing her shouts for help, house surgeons rushed to the spot. The man had fled the area,” the report stated.

However, the assailant later returned to the hospital around 1 AM, where he was caught by hospital staff and handed over to the police. Galar, who had been wandering near the railway station before entering the hospital campus, was arrested under Section 74 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.

The incident triggered a wave of protests among the medical interns at CMCH. Approximately 150 house surgeons, all of whom are practicing under the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship in the district, staged a sit-in protest in front of the Dean’s office on August 15, demanding improved safety measures for their female colleagues. The protest underscored the growing unease among the medical interns, particularly in the aftermath of the recent tragic incident in Kolkata, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

CMCH Dean Dr. Nirmala confirmed the sequence of events and reassured the protesters that immediate action had been taken. “We have raised the issue of inadequate lighting with the Public Works Department (PWD) and have already closed the rear gate to prevent unauthorised entry,” Dr. Nirmala stated. “The PWD has informed us that restrooms for women house surgeons would be readied soon. There are nearly 200 CCTVs on campus, and the defunct ones will be fixed. More lights will be installed, and we have ensured that there are enough security guards on duty at night.”

The house surgeons’ demands included the posting of adequate security guards on the campus at night, improved lighting, the installation of functional surveillance cameras (CCTVs), and regular night patrols by the police. It was revealed that most of the CCTV cameras on campus are currently defunct, and many areas are poorly lit at night. Out of the 150 house surgeons, 80 are women, and they lack access to separate restrooms outside of their hostel and the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department.

The protest by the house surgeons highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect female medical professionals in hospitals across the country. As the Coimbatore incident gains attention, it adds to the broader conversation about the safety and security of women in professional spaces, particularly in light of the recent events in Kolkata.