National Commission of Women. File
The National Commission of Women member, Dr. Archana Majumdar, visited the Panskura hospital in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur on Saturday (September 20), where a female contractual staff member was allegedly raped by a senior colleague inside the facility.
On September 21, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused that the NCW visits Bengal for the smallest of incidents, but they turn a blind eye when things happen in BJP-ruled States
After visiting the facility Dr. Majumdar said that there was evidence of years of sexual abuse in the medical facility.
“A mother came seeking justice for her daughter, sexually exploited in 2008 by the same accused. Years of sexual exploitation, religious abuse, hospital syndicate & administrative apathy,” Dr. Majumdar wrote on social media handle X. She further added that over 40 women, including two rape victims deposed in front of her during her visit.
Dr. Majumdar also raised alarm about security lapses at the hospital and said that the State’s system “is refusing to wake up even after RG Kar.”
Hitting back at the visit by the NCW team, the Chief Minister criticised Dr Majumdar’s visit. “Even for the smallest incidents, NCW comes to Bengal. But when things happen in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh they turn a blind eye,” Ms. Banerjee said while addressing a public gathering.
On Sunday, Congress State President Shubhankar Sarkar went to the Panskura Hospital and asked for an impartial investigation into the sexual abuse allegations.
Allegations against the facility’s manager first became public on Monday (September 15, 2025), after which the accused Zahir Abbas Khan was arrested. The incident of sexual harassment occurred on September 14..
The alleged incident took place at the Panskura Super Speciality Hospital. Later, many women from the facility alleged that the accused used to call women to his room and sexually abuse them.
Published – September 22, 2025 03:40 am IST
