Pune: COVID Centre security guard arrested for harassing female patient at night
Pune, 22 July 2020: After a 29-year-old woman complained that male staff at the Sinhgad College COVID Care Centre tried to enter her room at night when she was alone, Pune city police registered an FIR based after taking her statement on phone. Yesterday, Bharati Vidyapeeth police arrested the security guard of the centre who had sent her messages and harassed her for over hours since midnight on July 15.
She had called police control room but no help came as cops didn’t have personal protection equipment (PPE). After her cousin approached social workers they informed the police commissioner office as well as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which operates the centre. The arrested accused has been identified as Lokesh Dilip Mate (30), a resident of Dhayari.
The woman and her husband were found positive with Coronavirus Disease (COVID19). They were quarantined at the Sinhgad College COVID Centre. However, after the condition of her husband deteriorated, he was shifted to Bharati Vidyapeeth hospital.
According to police, the complainant was alone in the room when Mate had taken her number earlier for ‘security purpose’. On July 16 around 1 am, he messaged her if she has any problem. Later he sent her many messages including obscenes one and also called on her phone. He also knocked the door of the room several times. She had called police control room around 2.30 am but nobody from the police station went there as they didnt have PPE suit.
In the morning, she PMC staff but nobody did anything. Finally, she informed her cousin who contacted social worker Prashant Dhumal. They complained with Bharosa Cell under Crime Branch. Now Pune police and PMC has ordered a probe in the matter. The woman has been shifted to another building where she is staying with other inmates.
