PANAJI
Barely days after a sexual harassment case at Goa Dental College, another disturbing incident has rocked the neighbouring Goa Medical College (GMC), with a female resident doctor alleging similar harassment and stalking. The incidents have also raised concerns over hostel safety at the government-run medical colleges.
The new complaint, filed by a female resident doctor, bears disturbing similarities. Reliable sources told The Goan that the doctor reported that she saw the camera side of a mobile phone positioned through a gap in the bathroom door of the GMC hostel. When she made a noise, no one was found nearby. However, a case has been registered against an unknown person at Agassaim police station.
“We are treating the incident very seriously, but with no CCTV footage and the anonymity of the suspect make this a blind case. Nevertheless, our investigation is underway,” the source said, wishing anonymity.
The Goa Dental College and Goa Medical College share a common boundary wall, and in both cases, the suspects gained access to the women’s hostel areas without being detected. Sources confirmed the campuses are not equipped with surveillance cameras at the entry and exit points or along hostel corridors; and purportedly have no separate facilities.
In the first case, police stated the final-year student crossed the boundary wall around 9:45 pm on May 19 and entered the ground floor of the girls’ hostel, where he allegedly attempted to record videos of female students as they bathed.
He was arrested, later released on bail and has been suspended from college for six months. “He will not be allowed to sit for his upcoming preliminary exams beginning July 1, but may be permitted to take supplementary exams in January, depending on the outcome of the police investigation and the college’s ongoing internal inquiry,” the source said.
The police have meanwhile dismissed allegations of delay in sending the accused student’s mobile phone for forensic testing and casual approach while recording statements of witnesses. “The delay was from the complainant’s end. The phone has now been sent for examination, and if there is any evidence of tampering, the forensic analysis will show it. We can even retrieve the data,” the source said. Police also rejected claims that witness statements were recorded over the phone.
