The safety of healthcare professionals in West Bengal has come under severe public scrutiny following a brutal assault on a nurse at a rural health centre in Birbhum district. The incident, where the victim received 22 stitches for severe head injuries, is the latest in a troubling series of attacks, including a recent high-profile molestation case at Kolkata’s premier SSKM Hospital.

Drunk Youth Assaults Nurse in Birbhum BPHC

The shocking attack occurred late Wednesday evening at the Kaijuli Block Primary Health Centre (BPHC) in Mohammadbazar, Birbhum. The victim, identified as Rina Mondal, was reportedly finishing her shift and preparing to leave when an intoxicated local man entered the facility, demanding medicine.

According to police, when Mondal refused to comply with the demand, an argument escalated violently. The youth, identified as Rajib Kahar, allegedly grabbed stones and repeatedly struck the nurse on the head. Her cries for help alerted local residents, who rushed to the scene and managed to apprehend the assailant before handing him over to the police.

Mondal was immediately rushed to Suri Super Specialty Hospital, where doctors treated her for serious injuries, requiring 22 stitches on her head. The accused, a resident of the same locality, remains in police custody.

Widespread Outrage and Renewed Security Demands

The gruesome assault has ignited widespread outrage across the region, sparking renewed demands for enhanced security measures inside medical facilities.

“If nurses aren’t safe within hospital premises, how can ordinary citizens feel secure?” questioned a local resident, reflecting the growing anxiety among health workers and the public.
The Birbhum attack is sadly not an isolated case, highlighting a dangerous pattern of violence and security lapses that particularly endangers women medical staff across West Bengal.

Recent Incidents Expose Deep Security Flaws

The Birbhum attack adds to a worrying list of high-profile incidents that underscore the volatile environment in which Bengal’s healthcare workers operate:

SSKM Molestation Incident in Kolkata

In a highly disturbing case that highlights security breaches even in the state’s largest hospitals, a molestation was recently reported at the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. While details remain under investigation, the incident involving an alleged attack on a staff member or patient on the campus of the state’s premier medical institution has further fueled concerns over security and gender-based violence within healthcare settings.

Uluberia Assault on Woman Doctor (October 2025)

At Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College and Hospital in Uluberia, Howrah, a female junior doctor was allegedly assaulted and threatened with rape inside the maternity ward by a home guard and two relatives of a patient. The accused, including traffic home guard Sheikh Babulal, were arrested following the complaint, reigniting protests over hospital safety and workplace violence.

R. G. Kar Rape and Murder Case (August 2024)

This remains one of the most tragic examples, where a 31-year-old female postgraduate resident doctor was allegedly raped and murdered within the campus of R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The brutality of the crime and the fact that it occurred on a major hospital premises led to state-wide protests. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the CBI.
Recurring Attacks on Nurses

Ilambazar, Birbhum Molestation (September 2024): Weeks before the Mohammadbazar incident, a nurse at the Ilambazar Block Hospital was allegedly molested and verbally abused by a male patient while administering a saline drip late at night, leading to staff protests for 24/7 security.

Vandalism at Sagar Dutta Medical College (September 2024): Junior doctors and nurses launched a ‘cease work’ stir after being allegedly attacked and beaten by relatives of a deceased patient, causing injuries and significant vandalism.

Mob Attack at Vidyasagar State General Hospital (November 2024): Following a patient’s death, a large mob allegedly vandalized the Kolkata hospital and injured at least three nurses, underscoring the ineffectiveness of existing security protocols.

These recurring cases paint a grim picture of hospital security in West Bengal, prompting repeated demands from the medical fraternity for judicial scrutiny and the urgent implementation of stricter security measures to protect staff from routine violence.

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