The Odisha Police on Tuesday arrested a staffer of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar for allegedly sexually harassing an on-duty female employee inside the hospital premises.
Police sources said that based on a complaint filed by the woman, a case was registered under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 75, which deals with sexual harassment.
Police picked up the accused, identified as nursing officer Nanu Ram Choudhury, late Monday night.
According to sources, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when the woman was on night duty at a ward. Police said the nursing officer called her at about 12.30 am and asked her to meet him at a doctor’s chamber.
When she got there, the accused allegedly behaved inappropriately with her and made physical advances. She objected and managed to move away, following which she informed the hospital’s control room, sources said.
The woman has also submitted a complaint to the nursing superintendent of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
Later on Monday, she and other contractual staffers protested outside the main entrance of the institution, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused nursing officer. They also demanded a safe environment for women employees. She then also lodged a complaint with the police, who went to the spot and started an investigation.
Police said they apprehended the accused late Monday night while he was trying to flee. The accused will soon be produced before court, they said.
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According to AIIMS sources, the complainant has also lodged a complaint with the Internal Complaint Committee of the institute, which is also probing the matter.
