Sexual assault victim dies during treatment

A 23-year-old woman, who was reportedly sexually assaulted by a fellow patient at Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital (JPCH) in northeast Delhi, died during treatment at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital on Tuesday night. The incident has triggered widespread public outrage and drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who have accused the Delhi government of neglect, mismanagement, and a deteriorating law and order situation in the Capital’s public healthcare facilities.

According to the Delhi Police, the woman was allegedly assaulted by a male patient, Mohd Faiz, a resident of Kachchi Khajuri, who was arrested shortly after the incident was reported at the New Usmanpur police station. The woman was initially admitted to JPCH after being found unconscious in Sonia Vihar on June 21. She was later shifted to the hospital’s High Dependency Unit (HDU) and subsequently referred to GTB Hospital with a suspected case of poisoning, where she succumbed during treatment on June 24.

While police say they are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause of death, the hospital administration has denied allegations of sexual assault. In a press release, JPCH stated that medical examination found no signs of physical or sexual abuse.

The Delhi Government also cited CCTV footage and a committee report submitted by senior doctors, maintaining that no such assault took place.

Despite these claims, the incident has raised serious questions about the hospital’s security, surveillance, and treatment protocols for vulnerable patients. Hospital authorities confirmed that CCTV footage has been handed over to the police and details of staff on duty, including nursing officers, sanitation staff, and security personnel, have been shared with investigators.

Deputy Assembly Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht described the incident as “extremely painful,” stating, “If a woman is raped inside a hospital, it is a matter of grave concern. The administration must take the strictest possible action, including termination of those found guilty. If we do not act now, such incidents will happen again.”

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav called the episode a “shameful reflection of Delhi’s crumbling healthcare system.” He slammed the Rekha Gupta-led government for focusing on “glorified PR campaigns” while ignoring glaring lapses in hospital safety and patient care. “It is horrifying that a mentally unstable woman could be assaulted and then die under government care. What happened to security and patient rights?” he said.

Opposition AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj also weighed in, questioning the hospital’s administrative preparedness. “Was the hospital asleep? Were CCTV cameras not working? How can such inhumane treatment be allowed inside a government-run medical facility?” he posted on X.

The victim, whose identity remains unconfirmed, reportedly had no known family or relatives at the time of admission. Her body has been preserved in the GTB Hospital mortuary, and police are working to trace any next of kin.