Junior doctor found dead at top Kolkata hospital; Family, Opposition allege rape, murder
Family claims ‘clear case of murder’. Amid mounting pressure, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital sets up two inquiry panels.
4 min read
The junior doctor was found dead at Kolkata’s state-run R G Kar Medical College & Hospital. (Photo: X)A 31-year-old woman junior doctor was found dead at Kolkata’s state-run R G Kar Medical College & Hospital on Friday morning, triggering a political firestorm in West Bengal, with her family and the Opposition BJP alleging that she was raped and murdered. The doctor, a postgraduate student, was found in the building’s seminar hall.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Additional CP Murlidhar Sharma visited the spot for inspection. A forensic team was sent for an initial examination of the body at the spot, police sources said. The police officer said, “The body bore scratch marks, indicating that there was some struggle. Five people, who were on duty with her on Thursday night, are being interrogated,” police said, adding, “We are talking to doctors, nurses, and others who were on duty with her last night.”
Health Secretary NS Nigam also visited the hospital and along with Goyal held a meeting with senior officials of the medical establishment. According to a Trinamool Congress leader, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of the doctor as well as spoke to the family, assuring all help and support to them. Additionally, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen has promised a “thorough and fair investigation into the case.” “We will ensure that the truth will prevail. If anyone is found involved, strict action will be taken,” Sen said.
“I spoke to my daughter yesterday at 11 pm. She sounded very normal. I am shocked,” the doctor’s father told the media. “She was found partially clothed. We suspect she has been murdered and raped. Let the police investigate,” he added.
According to the hospital sources, the doctor was on duty until 2 am on Friday and the cause of death is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, the hospital has set up two panels — one for internal enquiry with 11 members and another for postmortem, comprising three members — an official from the hospital said.
According to an initial inquest (report prepared by the police or a designated officer in cases involving unnatural deaths or deaths under suspicious circumstances) submitted at the police station concerned, prepared under presence of three eyewitnesses, states that the victim was found “partially-clothed.” Resident doctors demanded an external inquiry panel headed by a judicial magistrate to look into the death.
Manas Gumta, the secretary of the Association of Health Service Doctors, said, “My blood boils. I don’t think such an incident has ever happened in the history of West Bengal. If our demands are not taken seriously, the all-doctors association will assemble in the hospital…” In a letter to Chief Minister Banerjee, the Association of Health Service Doctor, have sought a thorough investigation into the matter.
Amit Malviya, BJP’s information and technology department-in-charge, posted on X, claimed that woman was “raped and murdered”. “Her body (was) found in the duty room. Mamata Banerjee Govt is trying to hide the crime. Kolkata Police has been asked to cover up, and show it as suicide. Media is not being allowed in. Repeat: no woman is safe in West Bengal,” he wrote. The State Women’s Commission also took suo moto cognizance of the incident. The commission chairperson Leena Gangopadhyay visited the hospital on Friday. There was no CCTV camera in the seminar hall where the doctor’s body was recovered. “Doctors and nurses used to change clothes at that seminar hall due to which the CCTV is not there,” said a hospital employee.
(WITH PTI INPUTS)
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