Cuttack, Aug. 6: Police have arrested a lab technician of SCB Medical College and Hospital for allegedly molesting a female patient admitted to the gynaecology department.

The incident, which occurred early today, has brought to light the lapses in the security measures at the hospital’s female wards.

Sources said the junior lab assistant, Karunakar Mohanty, 36, allegedly molested the 32-year-old female patient of Jobra in presence of her family members.

On August 1, the woman’s family members got her admitted to the hospital for delivery. On August 4, she gave birth to a female child after surgery. Later, she was shifted to the ward.

Mohanty had allegedly entered the female ward in the guise of a doctor after showing an identity card to the security guards.

“We initially thought him to be a doctor. But, he started touching my daughter’s private parts on the pretext of check up. Sensing his purpose, we tried to oppose him. But, he pushed me away,” said the victim’s 55-year-old mother.

She also alleged that the accused had been inebriated at the time of the incident.

After the family members and the patient raised an alarm, security guards caught Mohanty.

One of the victim’s family members said they first lodged a complaint with SCB outpost, and later, the case was transferred to Mangalabag police station.

“The accused had shown an identity card and the security guards allowed him inside the female ward. On receiving information that he had misbehaved with the patient, we lodged a police complaint,” said accredited social health activist Lochani Das.

Mohanty was produced before court today.

The accused has been booked under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 354 (outraging modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“We have arrested the accused based on the filed complaint,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar.

Other patients, undergoing treatment at the gynaecology department, have expressed concern over the incident and demanded for adequate security at the hospital.

“It’s shocking that a woman, who had come to hospital for delivery, was molested by the hospital employee. How can we feel safe after such incident?” asked Sabita Swain, a patient.

Despite repeated attempts, the SCB authorities were not available for their comments.