Hearing, Speech Impaired Woman Raped, Denied Medical Exam For 6 Days

31.05.2016, GADCHIROLI, MAHARASHTRA: A woman with a hearing and speech impairment, who was allegedly raped in a village in Maharashtra, could not undergo a medical examination for six days due to "unavailability" of gynaecologist at government hospitals.

The incident of rape took place on the night of May 21 in Bamni village of Gadchiroli district, when the woman was asleep with her three children outside her house in the village, police said.

"At the time of incident, her husband was away from home. However, on his return, the woman narrated her ordeal to her husband through sign language, following which a complaint was lodged with the Bamni Sub Police Station the next day," sub-inspector of Bamni police station Mangesh Bhongade said.

Police registered the complaint and sent the woman to the Sub District Hospital of Aheri escorted by a lady police constable for her medical examination, he said.

"However, doctors at Aheri hospital flatly refused to conduct her medical examination saying that no gynaecologist was available there. They also asked the lady constable accompanying the victim to take her to Gadchiroli General Hospital. However, when the victim was taken there, they were told that the gynaecologist had gone on leave," Mr Bhongade said.

They asked the police to take the woman to adjoining Chandrapur district and get the examination done. However, doctors there refused to perform it saying the case did not take place in their jurisdiction and asked them to take her back to Gadchiroli.

"The woman was again brought to Gadchiroli General Hospital and finally, on May 27, her medical examination was done by a gynaecologist, who was specially called from nearby Kurkheda for this purpose," Mr Bhongade said.

The officer claimed that he had personally requested doctors of all the three hospitals, but no arrangement of medical examination was made till May 27.

"The woman was kept in the General Hospital for further examination till May 29," he added.

When contacted, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said a probe will be initiated and case will be registered against those found responsible for the delay in the medical exam.

The accused in the rape case, who also resides in the same village, has escaped and is suspected to be hiding in Andhra Pradesh, police said, adding that they hope to arrest him soon.