The Jammu and Kashmir Police has booked the Union Territory’s lone Aam Aadmi Party legislator after a woman doctor accused him of criminal intimidation and gendered abuse.
Doda’s 36-year-old MLA Mehraj Malik was booked Friday on the back of a complaint by Dr Madhu Chib, an associate professor and head of the gynaecology and obstetrics at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Doda, . He has been booked under sections 356 (criminal intimidation), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman, 351 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the BNS. Significantly, Malik has been critical of the functioning of hospitals in Doda, even raising this in the J&K Assembly.
The doctor accuses Malik of using social media platforms to publicly issue threats and level “abusive, gendered and derogatory remarks” against her, quoting him on occasion using phrases such as “gasheetonga (I will drag you)” and “nanga kardunga (I will strip you naked)” saying these were “not mere words, these are direct threats to my dignity, safety and professional integrity as a female doctor serving in a government hospital”.
“These words clearly outrage the modesty of a female public servant that too on social media,” she says in her complaint, asking the police to also take cognisance of his “frequently use” of phrases such as “chor, dalae, haramkhor and qatil” in his live videos on social media.
“What is even more painful is his taunt that this hospital doesn’t belong to your father,” she said, saying his statement “not only reflects arrogance but also extreme insensitivity considering the fact that her father passed away over 12 years ago”.
In addition, Malik’s conduct during his visits to the hospital were “erratic, threatening and completely unbecoming of an elected representative”, the complainant said, going on to say that accompanied by his associates and with live social media feeds running, he would “unauthorizedly entered the labour room – a sensitive and restricted area”.
“This is a gross violation of patient privacy, especially for female patients in vulnerable conditions,” the complainant said.
Mehraj Malik could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts.
