In a shocking development, a government hospital lab technician allegedly took a vaginal swab from a woman for conducting a COVID-19 test, officials said on July 30. He has now been arrested for molestation and rape.

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The incident occurred on July 28, when the 23-year-old complainant had gone for a COVID test at the Trauma Care Testing Lab of the Badnera government hospital in the district, said the Investigating Officer. The woman, a mall employee, turned out to be a contact of a colleague who tested COVID-19 positive, and was sent along with 20 others to the TCTL for a corona test. After the test, the technician age 30 - called up the woman to inform her that the COVID test was positive and she was required to undergo another test - a vaginal swab. "When she asked whether there are any female technicians for the second test, the accused replied in the negative, but allowed her to bring a female companion if she wanted," said the Investigating Officer.

The technician took the swab and later informed her that the test was negative, which aroused suspicions in her mind. The woman subsequently confided in her brother, who enquired with a doctor and confirmed that there are no vaginal swab tests involved for COVID. "She immediately lodged a complaint and we arrested the accused. He was produced before a court and has been remanded to police custody till July 31," the Officer told IANS.

The incident sparked off a furore with the Maharashtra Women & Child Development - who is also Guardian Minister of Amravati district - demanding the most stringent punishment for the accused. "The accused technician has been booked under IPC's Sections 354 and 376. He will not be spared. This is shocking that such an incident can take place in a district which gave India its first woman President (Pratibha Patil)," he said in a statement.

Strongly condemning the incident, the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade President said besides the first women President, the Amravati district has a woman Minister and Guardian Minister, and woman MP, which made it all the more shocking, and wondered what will be situation elsewhere. "This is a sheer atrocity on the dignity of a woman. We urged the government to immediately clear the proposed Disha Law to deter such culprits," he told IANS.