Two female MBBS interns were allegedly sexually harassed and assaulted in separate incidents on the campus of Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women in Khanpur Kalan, Haryana, last week, prompting student protests over security arrangements. Police said a labourer working at an under-construction site on the campus was arrested in connection with the incidents and a case was registered against him.

According to an official from the Women Police Station in Khanpur Kalan, the two incidents took place on August 15 within the college campus. One of the interns was reportedly walking towards the library at around 10.30 pm, while another was heading towards her duty. The accused allegedly approached the two women separately and touched them inappropriately, with the incidents occurring a few minutes apart. Both interns reside in the college's hostel facilities.

The police official said the two women subsequently approached the authorities and a case was registered on the basis of their complaints. The accused labourer, who was working at an under-construction site on the medical college campus, was arrested on August 16. Police said the case has been registered under Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and stalking.

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The incidents led to protests by MBBS students on Tuesday, with students staging a dharna outside the office of the institute's director. The protesters demanded stronger security arrangements across the campus, including an increase in the number of security guards and better lighting at locations where students and medical staff move during late hours. Students said the size of the campus and the nature of their work require adequate security for those who live and work there.

A protesting student told reporters that the accused had allegedly attempted to physically and sexually assault the two interns. She said the students were concerned that the incidents could have had more serious consequences. According to her, students had already raised security concerns with the college administration and held a detailed meeting with officials following the incidents. The authorities, she said, had assured them that steps would be taken to improve security.

However, the student alleged that the situation had not changed sufficiently even after the assurances. She claimed that a security guard had not been deployed and adequate lighting had not been installed at the location where the incidents occurred. She said students were worried about having to work and travel around the campus in what they considered an unsafe environment, particularly during late-night hours.

The protesters stressed that the security issue extends beyond MBBS students and affects doctors, healthcare workers, patients and other people who use the medical college campus. They demanded that the administration increase the number of guards and strengthen security measures throughout the large campus. The students said adequate lighting and security personnel were necessary to prevent similar incidents and ensure that medical trainees can carry out their duties without fear.

The arrest of the accused labourer has initiated the legal process, while the police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations. At the same time, the student protest has placed renewed focus on security arrangements at the medical college. The administration's response to the students' demands, along with the ongoing police investigation, will determine the next steps in the matter.

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