Covid-19 patient sexually abused by ambulance driver in Kerala

A 19-year old girl who tested Covid-19 positive was sexually harassed by an ambulance driver while being taken to a Covid care centre from home late on Saturday night at Pathanamthitta district in Kerala.

The accused, identified as Naufal of Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, was an accused in criminal cases, including an attempt to murder, earlier also. The incident took place in an ambulance engaged by the Kerala Health Department through a private agency.

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According to police, the accused allegedly sexually assaulted the girl while she was being taken to a Covid-19 care centre in Pandalam from Adoor. There was another woman in the ambulance while the girl was collected from her house after being tested Covid positive. But she was dropped on the way. Then he took the ambulance to an isolated ground near Aaranmula and sexually assaulted the girl. Video footage of the accused tendering an apology to the victim was recorded on the victim's mobile phone.

The incident came to light as the victim revealed to the authorities at the Covid-19 care centre the ordeal she faced. There was no nurse in the ambulance while the girl was being taken to the care centre from her house.

The opposition Congress and BJP accused the government of the serious lapses in ensuring the safety of the girl. BJP Kerala president K Surendran demanded Health Minister KK Shailaja's resignation taking moral responsibility of the incident.

The opposition parties also asked how a person with a criminal track record was engaged as an ambulance driver. Protest marches were staged at various parts of the state in this connection.

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said that the ambulance driver would be terminated from service by the agency with immediate effect and the police would take stern action. The ambulance service operator, GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute was also instructed that only those who produce police clearance certificate should be engaged for working in the ambulance. The agency maintained that Naufal was engaged as an ambulance driver considering his prior experience, she said.

Pathanamthitta district police chief KG Simon said that the accused was immediately nabbed and all evidences against him collected. The National Commission for Women sought a report from Kerala state police chief on the incident, while the Kerala Women's Commission also registered a case suo motto.