The Government Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda, has become a hub for all kinds of nefarious activities, especially in the evenings. The sprawling compounds containing dilapidated and incomplete buildings are a welcome sight to miscreants who enter the hospital premises through breaches in the boundary wall and engage in gambling, drinking, using drugs and prostitution — acts threatening the safety of the staff and mentally challenged patients. There have also been instances of intimidation and even attempts at sexual exploitation.
The security agency chooses to look the other way for obvious reasons. Encroachers, backed by powerful local politicians have also encroached on the premises and various cases are pending in the High Court and Supreme Court. A senior doctor at GIMH said, “The most dangerous rear entrance is the one beside Rythu Bazaar. All lights in the area are broken. Some time ago, construction of a female criminal ward was initiated. But the contractor left it incomplete. This building is being used by anti-social elements who bring women for prostitution.
Security men don’t raise an alarm. Moreover, some miscreants keep an eye on the female wards and nurses’ rooms from a vantage point.” Some of the female staff are scared to do night duty and demand a police outpost in the hospital. One of the staff, requesting anonymity, said, “Four days ago, there was a power cut. An attendant suddenly found her patient missing. An alarm was raised and soon the power was restored. The open ward patient was found in the incomplete female ward with a person. Seeing hospital staff approaching the site, the man ran away.”