Dr. Archana Majumdar, a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), visited Panskura hospital in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, on Saturday, September 20. Her visit followed disturbing allegations that a female contractual staff member had been raped by a senior colleague within the hospital premises.
The NCW’s intervention quickly drew sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 21. She accused the NCW of selectively scrutinizing incidents in West Bengal while allegedly overlooking similar occurrences in BJP-ruled states.
Dr. Majumdar’s inspection of the facility unearthed compelling evidence of widespread sexual abuse spanning many years. She revealed that a mother had approached her, seeking justice for her daughter, who was sexually exploited by the same accused individual as far back as 2008.
“Years of sexual exploitation, religious abuse, a pervasive ‘hospital syndicate,’ and administrative apathy,” Dr. Majumdar wrote on her social media platform, X, highlighting the systemic issues. She further disclosed that during her visit, more than 40 women, including two confirmed rape victims, bravely came forward to share their testimonies.
Beyond the allegations of abuse, Dr. Majumdar also expressed serious concerns regarding security lapses at the hospital, noting that the state’s system appeared “unwilling to learn even after the RG Kar incident.”
In response to the NCW’s presence, Chief Minister Banerjee reiterated her critique during a public address: “Even for the smallest incidents, NCW rushes to Bengal. Yet, when similar events unfold in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, they choose to turn a blind eye.”
Adding to the political discourse, Congress State President Shubhankar Sarkar visited Panskura Hospital on Sunday, publicly calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into the sexual abuse allegations.
The accusations against Zahir Abbas Khan, the facility’s manager, first emerged on Monday, September 15, 2025, leading to his subsequent arrest. The incident of sexual harassment that triggered the formal complaint occurred on September 14. Following these revelations at Panskura Super Speciality Hospital, numerous women associated with the facility have come forward, alleging a pattern where the accused would routinely summon women to his office for sexual abuse.