Woman raped by ward boy at Osmania hospital

HYDERABAD: While a spurt in sexual assaults is triggering nationwide outrage, a 35-year-old housewife, victim of domestic violence, was raped by a ward boy in a corridor of state-run Osmania Hospital hours after midnight. The incident happened on Thursday, and came to light on Saturday with the arrest of the rapist and a home guard who tried to hush up the case.



Afzalgunj police said ward boy B Nagaraju, 35, and home guard Qmar E-Ilahi were arrested based on evidence, including CCTV footage. “On May 2 night, the woman reached the casualty ward, where she was examined by doctors. After first-aid, she did not leave the hospital as she did not have money and went to the waiting hall. Nagaraju confronted her there. Posing as a senior health officer, he asked her to accompany him to the first floor, which was deserted and then sexually assaulted her,” assistant commissioner of police, Sultan Bazar, Chetana Mylabhutala told TOI.


Double torment: Battered by hubby, raped by OGH monster

A 35-year-old woman, a victim of domestic violence, who came to the state-run Osmania hospital for a medical test, was raped by a ward boy in the dark corridors of the out-patient block late on Wednesday night.


The incident came to light on Friday and the accused along with a Home Guard, who was at the police outpost on Osmania General Hospital premises and tried to hush up the case, were arrested on Saturday.

Hyderabad police said ward boy B Nagaraju, 35, and Home Guard Qmar E-Ilahi were taken into custody based on evidence, including CCTV footage. After preliminary investigation, they were arrested and produced before ajudge, who sent them to judicial custody.

The victim, in her complaint to Afzalgunj police, said she went to Osmania General Hospital on Wednesday night to obtain a medico-legal certificate (MLC) as she was beaten up by her husband and a complaint was already lodged by her at Banjara Hills police station. When she was sitting in the waiting hall on the ground floor and talking to a stranger, Nagaraju walked into the hall and questioned the two and also made allegations that they were in a compromising position, police said.

Nagaraju then took her to a secluded place on the first floor, where out-patient department is located, and raped her. Later, he disclosed the incident to Home Guard Qmar, who was posted at the police outpost. Instead of alerting his higher-ups, Qmar reportedly assured Nagaraju he would not escalate the incident and hush up the issue.

“On May 2 night, the victim first reached the casualty ward, where she was examined by doctors. After first-aid, she did not leave the hospital as she did not have money and went to the waiting hall. Nagaraju confronted her there. Posing as a top health officer, he asked her to accompany him to the first floor, which at that time was deserted and dark, and then sexually assaulted the victim,” assistant commissioner of police, Sultan Bazar, Chetana Mylabhutala told TOI.

The victim on Thursday approached the Banjara Hills police, who in turn directed her to their Afzalgunj counterparts.

On Friday, the victim approached Azalgunj police and lodged a complaint claiming that a man raped her and accordingly police registered a case under Section 376 (Rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The victim gave an important clue to the police by sharing that the accused was wearing an ear ring. The victim was shown photographs of staff members of Osmania General Hospital and she identified Nagaraju.

On questioning Nagaraju, he confessed to the crime and also the role of Qmar came to the fore that he tried to hush up the incident. So, Section 116 (Abatement of offence punishable with imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code was included.

“It is very shocking that this could happen with so many staff members around. Since the ward boy and even the Home Guard have been at OGH for long, I presume they knew the deserted spot,” OGH superintendent Dr B Nagender said.