An ambulance driver has been arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old coronavirus patient in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district.
The incident took place on Saturday night when two Covid-19 patients, an elderly woman and a 19-year-old woman, were being taken to two different hospitals by a 108 ambulance driver.
The accused, identified as 25-year-old Noufal, first dropped the elderly woman at a hospital. He then took the 19-year-old coronavirus patient to a deserted location near the Aranmula airport instead of taking her to the Covid-19 centre directly and raped her, the complaint filed against the accused stated.
After the crime, the accused dropped off the woman at the Covid care centre.
According to police, the survivor who was in quarantine at her relative’s house in Pandalam, had tested positive on Saturday and was to be taken to the hospital.
The accused was arrested on Sunday on the basis of the survivor’s complaint and a case was filed against him under charges of sexual assault and rape.
Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister KK Shylaja expressed shock over the incident and directed the concerned department to dismiss the driver from 108 ambulance service.
The accused has now been removed from the 108 ambulance department. (India Today)