A nurse posted in a hospital in Malda was allegedly threatened with dire consequences by the relative of a patient on Saturday night.

Police have arrested accused Arif Ali for telling the nurse that she would face “similar consequences like RG Kar". Last month, a doctor on duty at RG Kar hospital in Calcutta was brutally raped and murdered, sending ripples of shock and outrage across the state and nation.

A case has been registered against him while security has been increased at the hospital.

Sources said that relatives of Asgar Ali, a patient from Baiznathpur, under the Harishchandrapur police station, had swarmed into the room at the super-specialty hospital in Chanchal where he was under treatment.

Arif, one of Asgar's relatives, had occupied the stools kept in the ward for nurses and other staff. As one of the male nurses protested and asked them to vacate the room, Arif got into a heated exchange with them.

This made the female nurse on duty in an adjacent ward walk in and intervene to stop the argument.

“Seeing her intervene, Arif Ali got furious. He initially made objectionable comments about her caste and complexion and then started threatening her that she would face consequences similar to RG Kar. As she protested, the youth even threatened to get her transferred,” said another nurse who didn't want to be named.

“I was shocked when he told me that my situation would be as pathetic as the lady doctor at RG Kar," the female nurse who was abused and threatened, said.

Such abusive remarks and intimidation prompted other nurses to inform the hospital authorities. They, in turn, informed the police.

Shortly, a police team reached the spot and took Arif into custody.

In all, 120 nurses, both male and female, work in the hospital.

“We provide treatment to residents of all the six blocks of the Chanchal subdivision in Malda. Such an incident is unfortunate. We want the police to take necessary steps,” said Md Shamim, the superintendent-in-charge of the hospital.

Police officers said that security was stepped up at the hospital after the incident.

“Cell phone numbers of police officers have been provided to the hospital authorities so that they can directly call us in case they need any emergency intervention,” said a police officer.