Dalit minor rape case: Bihar government takes action against two medical officials
Acting on mounting pressure from the Opposition, the Bihar government on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) swung into action over the death of an 11-year old Dalit girl who was raped and brutally assaulted with a knife, and then succumbed to her injuries on Sunday at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
The PMCH did not allot a bed to the girl, who had been transferred from Muzaffarpur, and she had to wait for five hours in the ambulance before she was admitted.
In response to the outrage, the Health Department took action against PMCH Deputy Superintendent-in-Charge Abhijeet Singh, who has been relieved from his post. Kumari Bibha, the Superintendent of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur has also been suspended.
'Extreme insensitivity'
The official notification from the Health Department said that the death of a minor rape victim has come to its notice, adding that detailed investigation is being conducted into the matter. It said that, prima facie, it had been found that the Deputy Superintendent-in-Charge of Patna Medical College and Hospital did not discharge his duties properly, indicating administrative failure.
'Superintendent, SKMCH, Muzaffarpur did not follow the referral policy and did not discharge [her] duties properly. Also, extreme insensitivity was shown in the treatment of the victim. Ms. Bibha is suspended with immediate effect till further orders,' the Health Department order said.
She has been suspended under the relevant provisions of Rule 9 of the Bihar Government Servant (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules-2005. A separate charge sheet will be prepared once the investigation is complete. During her suspension period, Dr. Bibha's headquarters will be set as the State Health Department in Patna, and she will only be paid a subsistence allowance, in the light of Rule 10 of the Bihar Government Servant (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules-2005.
Brutal assault, deadly negligence
The 11-year old Dalit child was raped and found in a pit at a brick kiln in Muzaffarpur on May 26, according to the police. She had nearly 20 knife wounds on and around her neck. A first information report (FIR) was lodged against a 30-year-old man on the complaint of the girl's uncle, and the accused was arrested the same evening.
The child was initially taken to the SKMCH and then transferred to Patna on May 31, for better medical treatment. However, she was allegedly left in pain inside the ambulance outside the Patna hospital for about five hours, and was admitted only after intervention by Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar. She died at the PMCH on June 1.
'No one will be spared'
The Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav visited the child's house in Muzaffarpur on Tuesday (June 3, 2025), and slammed the State government for the death by negligence and the alleged failure of law and order in the State. Attacking Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr. Yadav said that beds at government hospitals are sold at premium prices.
BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary accepted that the death of the rape victim was due to medical negligence, adding that the State government has taken strict action against the top medical officials of two medical college hospitals.
'No one will be spared and the culprits of rape will be punished by conducting a speedy trial. Nitish Kumar's government works on the policy of zero tolerance towards all kinds of crimes. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty in the Muzaffarpur incident. The Opposition should not do politics on this incident,' Mr. Choudhary told journalists in Patna.
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