Doctor’s rape-murder: Protests swell, Mamata Banerjee sets cops a deadline

A 31-year-old junior doctor was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday, sending shockwaves through the state and prompting a protest by doctors at several hospitals. Police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the case.

The Chief Minister on Monday met the family of the doctor and later told reporters: “We are trying our best to solve the case. I don’t know how this type of incident can happen at a hospital. Police are giving utmost importance to the investigation. If there are more accused, and all are not arrested by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI – even though their success rate is low.”

On the same day, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his post. “I am being defamed on social media. Some people are spreading false accusations against me. Students are being provoked to seek my removal. The deceased doctor was like my child, and I want the guilty to be punished. As a parent, I am resigning,” he said. He was then deputed as principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC).

Protesting doctors, whose demands included the resignation of the principal as well as other top officials of the medical college, were angered by the decision to depute him to another institution. They said they would not allow Ghosh to take charge as CNMC principal.

At around 6 pm Monday, thousands of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and others reached RG Kar Medical College, carrying placards demanding justice for the victim. Later, doctors and students from CNMC also held a rally to RG Kar demanding that Ghosh be removed from his new post at their college.

On Sunday night, protesting doctors from state-run medical colleges across West Bengal had announced they would suspend emergency services from Monday onwards. The Chief Minister said the police have been ordered to identify the culprits, “whoever they are”. “They will be tried in a fast-track court, and we will demand the death penalty for them. Police will be in constant touch with the family,” she said.

Banerjee also mentioned the action already taken by the government, which on Sunday removed hospital superintendent Sanjay Vashisth. Kolkata police has also removed the ACP-rank officer who was in charge of the area concerned.

During her meeting with the family, the CM was accompanied by Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.
After the meeting, Goyal said, “All those who were near the PO (place of occurrence of the crime) and have a connection or involvement are being summoned. We have already started a helpline number. Doctors can anonymously call to tell us if they suspect someone and why. They can come and talk to us physically too.”

He said police would stay in constant touch and share information regarding the progress of the investigation with the family. “We are certain that in the next four-five days, if there are more culprits, we will be able to arrest them. If even after that, the family is not satisfied (with the probe), then whatever Madam (Banerjee) has said will happen,” he said.