Burqa-Clad Women Stopped at Mumbai BMC Cooper Hospital Over Baby Theft Fears
A controversy has erupted after two women wearing burqas were allegedly stopped from entering the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-run Cooper Hospital in Mumbai. A viral video circulating online shows the women being halted at the hospital entrance by security personnel, leading to a heated confrontation over the restriction.
According to the footage, one of the two women was carrying a baby when a female security guard stopped them at the entrance. The video shows the woman confronting the guard and demanding an explanation for why she was being barred from entering the hospital premises while wearing a burqa.
One of the women, identified as advocate Jahanara, stated that she had visited Cooper Hospital to meet an admitted relative. She said that she was stopped right outside the maternity ward and informed that entry while wearing a burqa was not permitted, regardless of her introduction or identity.
Jahanara recounted that when she questioned the reasoning behind the restriction, security staff allegedly claimed that individuals wearing burqas had previously stolen babies. She strongly questioned this justification, asking whether baby thefts were limited to people wearing burqas and noting that incidents in other facilities, such as Wadia Hospital, had involved perpetrators wearing sarees.
The woman suggested that if hospital authorities harboured genuine security concerns regarding infant safety, they should deploy female security guards to conduct proper checks on individuals entering and exiting the premises rather than enforcing blanket entry bans based on attire.
During the confrontation, a male security guard attempted to stop an individual from recording the incident on a mobile phone. However, the person filming refused to cease recording and continued to document the altercation despite repeated warnings from hospital security staff.
The viral footage has triggered widespread discussions on social media regarding security protocols and the treatment of visitors at civic healthcare institutions. As of the time of the reports, Cooper Hospital authorities had not released an official statement or comment regarding the alleged incident.
