Russian woman complains of modesty outraged

Panaji/Calangute: A Russian woman tourist was allegedly assaulted with intent to outrage her modesty and her gold chain stolen by some unidentified person at Calangute in the early hours of October 17.
A controversy erupted after she orally informed the legal advisor to the Russian consulate that she was molested during the medical examination at Goa medical college (GMC) and hospital at Bambolim.
Police said the previous ugly incident at Calangute occurred at around 3am on Friday after the woman, who had been enjoying herself in a beach shack,was returning to her hotel room along with her companions. While walking to their hotel, the woman was attacked by an unknown man who groped her from behind and snatched away a gold chain worth 30,000 which she was wearing around her neck. In the process her blouse got torn. The man then fled under the cover of darkness.
Terrified, the woman went back to the shack and informed the owner who then informed the Calangute police station. As the woman tourist was reluctant to lodge a police complaint, the police registered an offence on October 18 after informing the Russian consulate representative in Goa. Calangute police have registered an offence against an unidentified person under Sections 354 (intent to outrage modesty), 356 (assault or criminal force in an attempt to commit theft of property), 323 (causing hurt) and 379 IPC (theft).
Vikram Verma, legal advisor for Russian consulate, said the victim orally intimated him about the incident – that she was molested by the doctor - at GMC hospital. No police complaint has been lodged regarding alleged molestation at the hospital by the doctor.
Verma told TOI on Thursday that she has not filed a police complaint because “she did not have resources to pursue the case.” She was on a short holiday in Goa. The victim was to leave by Friday, he added.
“She has no intention of going through another round of delays and medical examination,” he said. He is also of the opinion that there has to be a set of procedures to deal with cases pertaining to foreign tourists.
The acting dean Dr A M Mesquita as well as Dr Sunanda Amonkar when contacted said there is no complaint.
Dr Mesquita said the woman was first examined in the casualty to determine if there were any injuries on her body from the assault she suffered at Calangute and later referred to the gynaecology department in respect of complaint of outraging modesty by a person in Calangute. The Russian woman, he said refused further examination (by the gynaecology department).
Few months ago, GMC had issued a circular stating medical examination of a rape or molestation survivor has to be conducted by a female doctor which is now normally done by female doctors from gynaecology department.