Panaji: A 32-year-old Russian national was allegedly molested twice over as many days in Goa, first at a beach and later at Goa Medical College and Hospital here by a senior medical officer after the police referred her there for a “medical examination”.
The Goa state health ministry sought a detailed report today from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) over the alleged incident. In her complaint, the woman who hails from Minsk in Russia, said that she had been robbed and molested at Baga beach by an unknown person on October 20.
“The woman is holidaying in Goa along with her female partner when she was initially molested by an unknown person at Baga beach on October 20 midnight,” Legal Advisor to the Russian Consulate in Goa, Vikram Varma told PTI here on Thursday.
Varma said that the woman was referred to Goa Medical College and Hospital by police for “medical examination” on October 21 “where she was examined twice, first by a female doctor and later by a male doctor who allegedly molested her.”
The woman had arrived in Goa on October 16. “She left the state today,” Varma said. A senior Health Ministry official has confirmed that a detailed report has indeed been sought from Medical Superintendent of GMCH about the incident, which was reported by the woman to the Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Goa. Meanwhile, a senior state health ministry official said that the accused is a doctor who was on emergency duty at GMCH on October 21 and happens to hold a chief medical officer’s rank.
“We have asked for a detailed report about the incident. The medical superintendent will submit the report,” he added. Varma said that after she complained of molestation, the police had referred her for a “medical examination” without any reason. He said that the woman was not fluent in spoken English and was accompanied by a lady interpreter during her visit to the GMCH.
When asked about the allegation that the police delayed filing of the FIR, a police spokesman claimed ignorance of the matter, but assured that his superiors would look into it. Telephone calls to the Goa state health minister Laxmikant Parsekar went unattended. (PTI)