A 25-year-old doctor from Nagaland, currently pursuing her third year of obstetrics and gynaecology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Gorakhpur, was allegedly stalked, molested and subjected to racial slurs on Sunday evening in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.
According to police, the incident took place around 8 pm on February 22 when the doctor was returning to the AIIMS campus from a mall located about 1.5 kilometres away. Three men on a motorcycle allegedly followed her during the entire stretch.
Superintendent of Police Abhinav Tyagi said two of the accused have been arrested. “Three persons are involved in the case. Two of them have been arrested and will be produced in court. Raids are underway to trace the third accused,” he said.
Alleged Harassment Near AIIMS Gate
Based on the complaint, the men allegedly shouted racial slurs and passed obscene remarks while following her. The doctor told police that one of the accused removed his shirt in an attempt to intimidate her. Near Gate Number 2 of AIIMS, close to an Army camp, one of the men allegedly touched her inappropriately.
When she raised an alarm, the accused fled from the spot. She later informed her colleagues at the hostel, who escalated the matter to the authorities. Police said they were officially informed on Monday, after which an FIR was registered at the AIIMS police station.
The case has been filed under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to assault or criminal force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty, obscene acts, criminal intimidation and intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace.
Accused Traced Through CCTV Footage
The two arrested accused have been identified as 22-year-old Suraj Gupta and 21-year-old Amrit Vishwakarma. Both are residents of the neighbouring Deoria district. Police said Gupta runs a fruit shop while Vishwakarma operates a general merchandise store.
Authorities tracked them using CCTV footage collected from the mall, the AIIMS premises and cameras installed along the route between the two locations. The motorcycle allegedly used in the incident has also been seized. Four police teams were deployed to locate the suspects.
A senior police officer said strict action would be taken. “We have identified the motorcycle and the accused through surveillance footage. Legal action is being taken as per law,” he said.
Political Leaders Condemn Incident
The incident has triggered strong reactions from political leaders and organisations representing people from the Northeast.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma described the episode as deeply shameful. In a statement on social media, he said, “Racial discrimination and sexual harassment of women from the North East should not just be a headline, sensationalised, forgotten and revived every time a fresh incident appears. The racial and sexual abuse of a resident doctor of AIIMS Gorakhpur from Nagaland is deeply shameful. Outraging a woman’s modesty is not what a civilised nation should tolerate. They are your sisters and daughters too. Urge the authorities to take stringent actions against the perpetrators.”
The Congress party also criticised the incident and attacked the central government over women’s safety. In a post on X, the party said the case was a reminder of how unsafe the country has become for women, especially those from the Northeast.
Similar Incident in Delhi
The Gorakhpur case comes days after three women from Arunachal Pradesh reported racial abuse in Delhi. According to Delhi Police, a couple was booked for allegedly shouting racial slurs and intimidating the women during a dispute related to debris falling into their home while an air conditioner was being installed.
