Doctor Arrested at Itahar Block Health Centre for Secretly Filming Nurses Changing Clothes with a Pen Camera; Mob Assaults Him in Police Presence Amid High Tension

Itahar, North Dinajpur: A doctor at the Itahar Block Health Centre in North Dinajpur has been arrested on charges of secretly recording a video of nurses changing their clothes using a pen camera. Intense tension gripped the health centre premises from Tuesday morning once the incident came to light. Upon receiving the news, a large police contingent from Itahar Police Station arrived and detained the accused. However, it is alleged that an agitated mob assaulted the arrested doctor right in front of the police.

How did the incident come to light?
Hospital sources revealed that for the past few days, some nurses had noticed a pen lying in an unusual spot within the nurses’ changing room. Suspicious, they opened the pen on Monday night and discovered a hidden camera inside. The matter was immediately reported to the Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) and other doctors.

It is alleged that the pen camera had been planted by Dr. Subrata Saha, a Medical Officer at the health centre. On Tuesday morning, the nurses stopped work and began a protest. As news of the incident spread, local residents gathered at the hospital premises, and the situation became volatile.

Upon receiving the information, a police team led by the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Itahar Police Station arrived. As the police were escorting the accused doctor into the van, the agitated crowd lunged at him, raining blows and slaps right in front of the officers. Later, reinforcements arrived, used lathi-charges to disperse the crowd, and took the accused to the police station.

Sumon Roy, the Inspector-in-Charge (IC) of Itahar Police Station, stated, “Dr. Subrata Saha has been arrested based on a written complaint filed by the nurses. A case has been registered against him under Section 77 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act. The pen camera and memory card have been seized and will be sent for forensic analysis. We are investigating how long the recording had been going on and whether anyone else was involved.” Dr. Sourav Mondal, the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) for North Dinajpur, stated, “This incident is highly condemnable. The process to suspend the accused doctor has been initiated, and a departmental inquiry will also be conducted. Instructions have been issued to inspect all changing rooms and restrooms in the hospital. The safety of the nurses will be ensured.”

One of the protesting nurses said, “We are not safe at our workplace. The very person we regard as a god-like figure committed such an act! We demand exemplary punishment for him.” Female staff members at the health center have been living in fear since the incident occurred.

Upon being produced in court, the arrested doctor was remanded to police custody for five days by the Itahar Sub-divisional Court. The incident has caused a stir within the district’s health sector.