NEW DELHI: The tragic
rape and murder
of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 sparked outrage across India, and triggered unprecedented protests in the city of joy. It has been over a month now and the junior doctors are still on the streets demanding justice for the victim. Mamata Banerjee‘s meeting with the protesting doctors on Monday has provided a glimmer of hope for normalcy to return in state.
The trainee doctor was found dead in the early hours of August 9 and the incident was initially reported as suicide. However, the autopsy report revealed that the victim was brutally raped and murdered. The cause of death was said to be smothering and throttling.
The state government set up a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) and a civic volunteer was arrested within six hours. However, the investigation was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the intervention of Calcutta high court.
The case has seen a series of arrests, mass protests by doctors, and an ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is being monitored by the Supreme Court.
Here’s a look at some of the key developments.
Arrests in the case
The investigating agencies have so far made three arrests in connection with the case:
Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested by the Kolkata Police a day after the crime and charged with rape and murder and was sent to the CBI custody.
Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was arrested by the CBI on September 2 for alleged financial irregularities at the hospital. Additional charges for destruction of evidence and delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) in the rape and murder case was filed against him on September 15.
Abhijit Mondal, the officer-in-charge of Tala police station under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls, was arrested by the CBI on September 16 for allegedly trying to protect the accused, delaying the FIR, and allowing a hurried cremation of the victim’s body.
Additionally, the CBI suspects a larger conspiracy behind the crime and has alleged that Ghosh and Mondal were in touch with each other and deliberately delayed the FIR and cremated the body hastily. The central probe agency has also sent summons to four officers of Kolkata Police, including two sub-inspectors, in connection with the case.
The agency has alleged there was “dereliction of duty” on the part of some police officers. The investigators said a section of police officers tried to misguide them. It is also looking into the case diary to find discrepancies, pointing at intentional efforts of a cover-up.
Centre, state tussle
The case also led to a tussle between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government. BJP and TMC leader indulged in exchange of words, with BJP demanding Mamata’s resignation over the gruesome incident.
Earlier, the Calcutta high court had lambasted the Kolkata Police over its investigation and directed the CBI to probe both the rape-murder case and the financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital.
Supreme Court observations
The Supreme Court also took the suo moto cognizance of the case and is monitoring the CBI probe. The court expressed displeasure over the “worse” findings in the CBI’s status report and said it is “very disturbed” by the contents.
Additionally, the apex court on Tuesday said that the West Bengal government cannot stop women doctors from working on night shifts. The top court said women do not want concessions, but equal opportunities and women doctors are willing to work in all conditions. It further said that it is state duty to provide safety to women doctors.
The court also examined the CBI status report and said that revealing its details could jeopardize the investigation. It also said that the live streaming of the hearing will continue, emphasising that it is a matter of public interest and the public has the right to know what is happening in the courtroom.
The apex court has requested the CBI to submit a status report on the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities in the medical departments.
Protests by doctors, public
The incident sparked massive protests by doctors across West Bengal and India, who have been demanding justice for the victim. The protests have gained widespread support from the public, with thousands rallying in Kolkata and other cities for weeks.
Last month, lakh of women held ‘Reclaim the night’ protest across Kolkata, Salt Lake, other districts, cities and countries, including Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Silchar, Poland, Scotland, Munich, London, Leeds and Atlanta, vociferously seeking justice for the victim of the heinous crime at RG Kar.
The rallies reverberated with slogans like “the night is ours” and “meyera, raat dokhol koro,” as women united to reclaim their right to safety and security during the night and sought freedom from fear with demands like secure all-night transport system for women and marginalized gender and safe resting rooms for professionals working at night.
Additionally, demonstrators clashed with police during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’, a march planned to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna. The clashes, which lasted nearly four hours, saw protestors pelting stones and glass bottles, leading to injuries on both sides.
The doctors have resolved to continue their protests until justice is served. They are also urging chief minister Mamata Banerjee to meet their demands, which include better safety laws for women in healthcare facilities.
Docs-Mamata hold talks
After four failed attempts, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and a delegation of protesting doctors finally held talks to resolve the matter on September 16.
During the meeting, Banerjee assured the doctors that the state government stands with them and will provide all support to the victim’s family. The Kolkata commissioner of police, along with some top health officials were also removed, shortly after the meeting concluded.
Earlier, the Mamata government sent four invites for talks with doctors. However, the talks couldn’t happen over the demand of live streaming of the meeting.
Bengal passes anti-rape Bill with stringent provisions
The West Bengal government also passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 earlier this month. The bill passed by the Mamata Banerjee government, proposes stringent punishments, including the death penalty, for convicted rapists, especially in cases where the crime results in the victim’s death or leaves them in a vegetative state.
The bill also includes provisions for harsher sentences for repeat offenders, who could be sentenced to life imprisonment or even death and provides quicker investigations, with a new three-week deadline for cases to be completed, a significant reduction from the current two-month period.
However, an extension of up to 15 days could be granted under specific conditions.
Additionally, the bill aims to establish a special task force called the “Aparajita Task Force” at the district level, led by a deputy superintendent of police.
Ongoing probe
The CBI is currently examining various issues in the case, including the proper submission of the statutory challan for the postmortem and potential tampering at the crime scene or destruction of evidence.
The Supreme Court has noted that revealing details of the ongoing probe could “jeopardise the line of investigation” and has urged the CBI to unearth the “absolute truth”.
The court has also highlighted challenges faced by the CBI due to a “five-day delay” in the investigation, which has hindered its progress.
As the investigation continues, the nation awaits justice for the victim and hopes that the arrests and ongoing probe will lead to the truth being uncovered and the perpetrators being brought to justice.
The case has once again highlighted the urgent need for better safety measures for women in professional environments and the importance of swift and thorough investigations in such heinous crimes.
