At a premier Public health institute in Chandigarh, PGIMER, a concerning incident unfolded when an unidentified woman accessed the gynaecology ward at PGI on Wednesday night, November 15. She injected a female patient with an unknown substance, prompting authorities to act swiftly.
The police have filed a case of attempted culpable homicide (Section 308 of the Indian Penal Code) and initiated an investigation. The woman allegedly gained entry by posing as a nurse and targeted a 24-year-old patient named Harmeet Kaur, who had been transferred to PGI from Banur in Patiala.
Harmeet’s condition is critical; she’s currently receiving treatment in the trauma ICU for puerperal sepsis and acute kidney injury, according to Professor Vanita Suri, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at PGI. Dr Vanita Jain is leading an inquiry into the incident involving the supposed ‘nurse.’
The suspect entered the gynaecology ward around 11:30 pm on November 15 and administered the injection to Kaur, who managed to take a blurry photo of the accused with her mobile phone. Unfortunately, the image hasn’t provided substantial leads for the police investigation.
Reportedly, Harmeet, who had recently given birth in Banur, Patiala, was admitted to PGI after her health deteriorated. She became suspicious during the incident and questioned the woman posing as a nurse about her identity and the doctor who had supposedly sent her. The imposter hastily left when confronted.
There were complications in the investigation as the CCTV cameras in Nehru Hospital were inactive. The police are delving into the patient’s background for potential clues. Inspector Malkit Singh, SHO of Police Station 11, confirmed the launch of an investigation, highlighting the victim’s multiple health issues. Medical records from PGIMER are under scrutiny to aid the probe.
A case under Section 308 of the IPC has been registered at Sector 11 police station, with efforts ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspect.
