In a disturbing incident at Kolkata’s SSKM Medical College and Hospital, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly molested inside the hospital premises by Amit Mallick, a 34-year-old former hospital employee. The accused, who had been previously attached as a Group D staff member at the hospital’s satellite, had gained unauthorized entry wearing an old hospital uniform while currently working temporarily at Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital.
The incident occurred while the girl’s parents were briefly away securing an OPD ticket. Mallick was arrested from his residence in Dhapa the same day and charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The case brings renewed scrutiny on patient safety and security protocols at public hospitals in West Bengal. Senior officials and civic leaders have expressed outrage, with investigations ongoing into how the accused accessed the hospital and whether more such crimes can be linked to him.
The Incident: Harrowing Moments Inside the Hospital
On Wednesday afternoon, the minor girl accompanied her parents to SSKM for a scheduled consultation. While her parents were at the OPD ticket counter, Mallick allegedly approached the girl, luring her to the Trauma Care Centre washroom by posing as a hospital worker in a green surgical uniform.
It was in this common washroom that the girl was molested. She summoned courage to scream for help, leaving Mallick to flee. Hospital staff and visitors promptly responded, and the girl was found visibly distressed on the hospital compound. Her parents immediately reported the case to a woman doctor who escalated the matter to the hospital authorities and subsequently to the police.
Law enforcement officers tracked CCTV footage to identify Mallick, who was arrested late Wednesday night from his residence in Dhapa.
Police sources said the accused had repeatedly been seen in old hospital uniforms, despite no longer officially working there, raising questions about unchecked access and security gaps that enabled this attack. The girl’s medical examination has been completed, and her statement has been recorded for legal proceedings.
Security Under the Microscope: Problems Beyond a Single Case
This case has spotlighted glaring deficiencies in security protocols at major government hospitals in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal. Despite past controversies and promises of reform after the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College in 2024, such incidents continue – often involving hospital insiders or former employees exploiting their knowledge and access.
Hospital sources revealed that Mallick was previously employed at SSKM’s satellite hospital, Shambhunath Pandit Hospital, and his familiarity with the premises likely facilitated his unauthorised entry. Since he was currently employed temporarily at NRS Medical College, it’s unclear how and why he entered a different hospital wearing a hospital uniform – a situation authorities say requires urgent review of visitor and staff identification practices.
The state government and Kolkata police have promised comprehensive audits of security measures, including enforcing stricter ID checks, limiting entry points, and upgrading surveillance systems. These steps come amidst mounting criticism from political leaders and citizens alarmed at the persistence of crimes against women in supposedly safe public institutions.
Reactions and Wider Context on Women’s Safety
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim condemned the incident, stressing the need for public vigilance and swift law enforcement action. He assured that legal processes will be followed to hold perpetrators accountable. On the other hand, BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar criticised the state government’s failure to protect women, pointing out that despite assurances after previous high-profile cases, little substantive action has been taken, leading to recurring violence.
This particular case also reignited discussions within the medical community following a recent incident at Uluberia Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College and Hospital, where a woman doctor was threatened with sexual assault by patient family members. Such continuous assaults have intensified calls from doctors’ unions and women’s safety groups for sustained systemic reforms in healthcare environments.
The tragic pattern echoes the shock felt after the 2024 rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, a case that shook the state and drew national attention, sparking protests for safer working and public spaces. The SSKM incident compounds the urgency to address these systemic lapses comprehensively.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident at Kolkata’s premier public hospital deepens concerns about the recurring violation of safety in spaces meant to protect and care for society’s most vulnerable-women and children. It exposes not just individual criminality but systemic failure in enforcing security and accountability in our healthcare institutions.
The Logical Indian urges healthcare administrations, law enforcement, and policymakers to go beyond reactive measures and adopt sustained, transparent reforms prioritising empathy, dignity, and protection in hospital environments. It is essential to build infrastructures that not only safeguard patients physically but also cultivate trust and respect.
Empowering patients, especially women and minors, with accessible complaint mechanisms, strict verification for all staff and visitors, and regular safety audits will be critical.
Most importantly, society must confront these issues collectively, nurturing a culture where victims are supported and perpetrators are swiftly dealt with under the law.
