Shillong, July 13: Meghalaya Police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations that a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a male nurse at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said the case was being investigated as a special report case and assured that a chargesheet would be filed within 60 days, depending on the evidence gathered. “The police have taken up the case under the POCSO Act. We are examining the matter and a notice has been issued. The written statement will be recorded before the court tomorrow, following which other steps in the investigation will be carried out,” Syiem said after meeting a delegation of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Monday.
He said the case involved a minor and required the issuance of a notice under Section 33 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The SP added that a report would also be sent to the NEIGRIHMS authorities for appropriate action against the accused. “It is for the NEIGRIHMS authorities to decide what action should be taken against the accused. Nonetheless, the investigation will be fair and effective,” he said.
The KSU, meanwhile, demanded the immediate arrest of the accused male nurse and action against those allegedly supporting him. The Union submitted a complaint to the SP over the incident, which allegedly occurred on July 4, 2026.
According to the complaint, the minor was taken to an observation room following an appendix operation and was allegedly left alone with a male nurse without an attendant or female nurse present. “She was left alone with a male nurse who sexually assaulted her, but she could not shout or scream for help as she had just undergone an operation and had no strength,” the KSU alleged in its letter. The Union said the girl informed her mother about the alleged incident after she was shifted back to the ward. An FIR was reportedly lodged at the Mawdiangdiang Police Outpost on the same day.
However, the KSU alleged that the police did not take immediate action and visited NEIGRIHMS only on July 6 after the Union intervened. The complaint also referred to a protest allegedly organised on July 7 by some male nurses and staff in support of the accused. The Union claimed that a second FIR was lodged under comparatively weaker provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The KSU urged the police to invoke Section 17 of the POCSO Act, which deals with punishment for abetment. “The Union condemns the failure of the police to arrest the person accused of committing the crime. Moreover, since he is not from Shillong, there is every possibility that he may escape,” the complaint stated. The Union also urged NEIGRIHMS to suspend those allegedly involved in the matter to prevent any possible tampering with evidence.
Following the meeting, KSU general secretary Reuben Najiar said the SP had assured the delegation that the case would be fast-tracked. “The SP assured us that the police will fast-track the case. They have recorded the statements of the victim and witnesses, and within a couple of weeks, they are expected to chargesheet the matter,” Najiar said.
The KSU also questioned the absence of female medical staff while the minor was being kept under observation. “We questioned the NEIGRIHMS authorities as to why no female nurse was present when the child was taken to another room for observation. The law also prescribes that a female nurse should be present whenever a female patient is involved,” Najiar said.
The Union said it had submitted a separate representation to the NEIGRIHMS authorities seeking accountability and appropriate action.
