Inquiry underway into security breach at GBP Hospital girls' hostel

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 6, 2026

Authorities of AGMC and GBP Hospital on Wednesday said an inquiry is underway into the recent security breach at the Resident Girls' (Intern) Hostel and announced a series of measures, including expanded CCTV coverage, tighter security surveillance and restrictions on unauthorised parking within the hospital campus.

Addressing a press conference, AGMC Principal Prof. (Dr.) Tapan Majumder said the incident occurred when a first-year postgraduate student was resting in her hostel room. According to him, an unidentified person wearing a mask entered the room through an open rear entrance, pushed the student from behind and fled with her mobile phone.

The student raised an alarm, following which other hostel residents and security personnel rushed to the spot. However, the intruder had already escaped. Officials from the hostel administration and personnel from NCC Police Station also reached the hostel after the incident, he said.

Majumder said efforts to identify the accused were continuing, but the investigation had been hampered because CCTV cameras did not cover the entire hostel complex. Available footage showed an individual moving through the rear portion of the premises. He said the person was able to gain access through an area where protective grills had not been installed.

Following the incident, the engineering wing of the institution has been directed to install grills at vulnerable openings in the women's hostel, he added.

The Principal also said a show-cause notice had been issued to the private security agency engaged at the hospital. According to him, the agency had been instructed to deploy personnel in plain clothes and ensure continuous surveillance throughout the campus. However, on the day of the incident, the last security round was conducted at 9.45 pm.

He said the administration had also reviewed recent incidents of theft reported from the hospital and held discussions with the security agency to strengthen monitoring arrangements.

Medical Superintendent Dr. Bidhan Goswami said additional CCTV cameras would be installed and a proposal had been submitted to reduce the number of entry and exit points within the campus. He added that unauthorised parking in the residential zone of the hospital would also be curtailed.

Goswami appealed to students to remain vigilant and said the police had been requested to intensify patrolling if additional personnel could not be deployed permanently. He also said coordination between police and security supervisors would be strengthened and assured that adequate lighting would be ensured across the campus.

Referring to theft cases, Goswami said security personnel had detained four individuals during the current month and handed them over to the police. He added that all hospital staff would be required to wear prescribed uniforms and identity cards to prevent unauthorised access.

Responding to a question on allegations that a doctor had misbehaved with the attendant of a patient in the emergency unit, Goswami said an inquiry committee had already been constituted and was in contact with the complainant. Appropriate action would be taken if any wrongdoing was established, he said.

He added that the hospital administration would maintain "zero tolerance" in such matters and reiterated that emergency treatment must always be prioritised, referring to a Supreme Court ruling on the issue.

The allegations surfaced after a youth claimed on social media that his patient was denied treatment in the emergency department after he addressed the attending doctor as "dada". Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. Kanak Chowdhury, Resident Medical Officer Bikas Debbarma and other officials were present at the press conference.

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