In yet another shocker from Kerala, a 44-year old woman was allegedly raped by a health official in Thiruvananthapuram of Kerala.

According to the complainant, the accused, who is a junior health inspector at a primary health centre, had allegedly asked her to come to his house to collect the coronavirus negative certificate on September 3. Upon reaching, she was allegedly tied up and sexually assaulted and was allowed to leave only the next day.

The woman, a home nurse at Malappuram, had returned to her home at Kulathupuzha few days back and was asked to be home quarantined.

The woman, after testing negative for the virus, was told by the accused to collect the test certificate from his flat where she was allegedly raped.

"The official allegedly physically assaulted her, tied her hands and mouth for some time in between, and raped her. The medical examination has been done. Further investigation is underway. A case has been registered under section 376 of the IPC," said Circle Inspector Suneesh.

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja has ordered the suspension of the official, identified as Pradeep, from service.

The incident came to light a day after a 19-year-old woman was raped by an ambulance driver as she was being shifted to a COVID care centre at Pandalam in Pathnamthitta district on Saturday midnight.

Leader of the opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala has condemned both the cases and said the two incidents of rape has brought shame to the state.