India
Unprecedented protests, SC vigilance and Mamata’s litmus test: Key developments in Kolkata rape-murder horror | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The tragic rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9 had sparked outrage across India and led to 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 given a glimmer of hope that normalcy is returning to the state.
The junior doctor was found dead in the early hours of August 9 and the incident was initially reported as a suicide. However, the autopsy report revealed that the victim had been brutally raped and murdered. The cause of death was said to be suffocation and strangulation.
The state government formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a civilian volunteer was arrested within six hours. However, the investigation was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following the intervention of the Calcutta High Court.
The case has led to a series of arrests, mass protests by doctors and an ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is monitored by the Supreme Court.
Below you will find some important developments.
Arrests in the case
Investigating authorities have so far made three arrests in connection with the case:
Sanjoy Roy, a civilian volunteer, was arrested by Kolkata police a day after the crime and charged with rape and murder. He was transferred to the custody of the CBI.
Dr Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was arrested by the CBI on September 2 for alleged financial irregularities at the hospital. On September 15, additional charges were filed against him for destroying evidence and delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) in the rape and murder case.
Abhijit Mondal, the in-charge of Tala police station, under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls, was arrested by the CBI on September 16 for allegedly trying to shield the accused, delaying the FIR and allowing the hasty cremation of the victim’s body.
Moreover, 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 in haste. 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 that there was “dereliction of duty” by some police officers. Investigators said some of the officers tried to mislead them. The agency is also examining the case diary for discrepancies that point to deliberate attempts at a cover-up.
Center, state struggle
The case also led to a tussle between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government. BJP and TMC leader exchanged words, with the BJP demanding that Mamata resign over the gruesome incident.
Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had criticised the Kolkata Police for its investigation and directed the CBI to probe the rape and murder case as well as the financial irregularities at the RG Kar Hospital.
Supreme Court Comments
The Supreme Court has also taken up the matter on its own motion and is keeping a watch on the CBI investigation. The court expressed dismay over the “worse” findings in the CBI’s status report and said it was “deeply disturbed” by its contents.
Moreover, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the West Bengal government cannot prohibit women doctors from working in night shifts. The Supreme Court said that women do not want any concession but equal opportunity and women doctors are ready to work under any circumstances. It further said that it is the duty of the state to provide safety to women doctors.
The court also examined the CBI status report and said that revealing the details could jeopardize the investigation. It also said that the live streaming of the hearing will continue, stressing that it is a matter of public interest and the public has the right to know what is happening in the courtroom.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBI to file a status report on its investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at the medical departments.
Protests from doctors and public
The incident sparked mass protests by doctors in West Bengal and India, demanding justice for the victim. The protests received widespread public support, with thousands demonstrating in Kolkata and other cities for weeks.
Last month, hundreds of thousands of women staged a ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest in Kolkata, Salt Lake City and other districts, cities and countries including Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Silchar, Poland, Scotland, Munich, London, Leeds and Atlanta, vociferously demanding justice for the victim of the gruesome crime in RG Kar.
The protests were characterised by slogans such as “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 such as a safe 24-hour transport system for women and marginalised genders and safe rest areas for professionals working at night.
Moreover, protesters clashed with police during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’, a planned march to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna. The clashes, which lasted for nearly four hours, saw protesters pelting stones and glass bottles, leading to injuries on both sides.
The doctors have decided to continue their protests until justice is done. They are also urging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to meet their demands, including better safety laws for women in healthcare facilities.
Docs-Mamata hold conversations
After four failed attempts, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a delegation of protesting doctors finally held talks on September 16 to resolve the issue.
During the meeting, Banerjee assured the doctors that the state government is with them and will extend all support to the victim’s family. The Kolkata police commissioner, along with some top health officials, were also dismissed soon after the meeting ended.
Earlier, the Mamata government had sent four invitations for talks with doctors. However, the talks could not take place due to the demand for live streaming of the meeting.
Bengal passes anti-rape law with strict 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 law passed by the Mamata Banerjee government proposes stringent punishment, including death, for convicted rapists, especially in cases where the crime results in the death of the victim or leaves them in a vegetative state.
The bill also includes provisions for tougher sentences for repeat offenders, who could be sentenced to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. It also provides for faster investigations, with a new three-week deadline for cases to be completed. This is a significant reduction from the current two-month deadline.
However, under certain conditions, an extension of up to 15 days may be granted.
In addition, the bill seeks to establish a special district-level task force, the “Aparajita Task Force”, headed by a deputy police chief.
Ongoing research
The CBI is currently investigating several issues in the case, including proper filing of statutory bail for the autopsy and possible tampering of the crime scene or destruction of evidence.
The Supreme Court has observed that revealing details of the ongoing probe “could jeopardise the line of investigation” and has urged the CBI to reveal the “absolute truth”.
The court also highlighted the challenges faced by the CBI due to a “five-day delay” in the investigation, hampering its progress.
As the investigation continues, the country awaits justice for the victim and hopes that the arrests and ongoing investigation will lead to the truth coming out and the perpetrators being brought to justice.
The case underscores the urgent need for better safety measures for women in professional settings and the importance of swift and thorough investigations into such heinous crimes.
The junior doctor was found dead in the early hours of August 9 and the incident was initially reported as a suicide. However, the autopsy report revealed that the victim had been brutally raped and murdered. The cause of death was said to be suffocation and strangulation.
The state government formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a civilian volunteer was arrested within six hours. However, the investigation was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following the intervention of the Calcutta High Court.
The case has led to a series of arrests, mass protests by doctors and an ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is monitored by the Supreme Court.
Below you will find some important developments.
Arrests in the case
Investigating authorities have so far made three arrests in connection with the case:
Sanjoy Roy, a civilian volunteer, was arrested by Kolkata police a day after the crime and charged with rape and murder. He was transferred to the custody of the CBI.
Dr Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was arrested by the CBI on September 2 for alleged financial irregularities at the hospital. On September 15, additional charges were filed against him for destroying evidence and delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) in the rape and murder case.
Abhijit Mondal, the in-charge of Tala police station, under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls, was arrested by the CBI on September 16 for allegedly trying to shield the accused, delaying the FIR and allowing the hasty cremation of the victim’s body.
Moreover, 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 in haste. 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 that there was “dereliction of duty” by some police officers. Investigators said some of the officers tried to mislead them. The agency is also examining the case diary for discrepancies that point to deliberate attempts at a cover-up.
Center, state struggle
The case also led to a tussle between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government. BJP and TMC leader exchanged words, with the BJP demanding that Mamata resign over the gruesome incident.
Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had criticised the Kolkata Police for its investigation and directed the CBI to probe the rape and murder case as well as the financial irregularities at the RG Kar Hospital.
Supreme Court Comments
The Supreme Court has also taken up the matter on its own motion and is keeping a watch on the CBI investigation. The court expressed dismay over the “worse” findings in the CBI’s status report and said it was “deeply disturbed” by its contents.
Moreover, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the West Bengal government cannot prohibit women doctors from working in night shifts. The Supreme Court said that women do not want any concession but equal opportunity and women doctors are ready to work under any circumstances. It further said that it is the duty of the state to provide safety to women doctors.
The court also examined the CBI status report and said that revealing the details could jeopardize the investigation. It also said that the live streaming of the hearing will continue, stressing that it is a matter of public interest and the public has the right to know what is happening in the courtroom.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBI to file a status report on its investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at the medical departments.
Protests from doctors and public
The incident sparked mass protests by doctors in West Bengal and India, demanding justice for the victim. The protests received widespread public support, with thousands demonstrating in Kolkata and other cities for weeks.
Last month, hundreds of thousands of women staged a ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest in Kolkata, Salt Lake City and other districts, cities and countries including Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Silchar, Poland, Scotland, Munich, London, Leeds and Atlanta, vociferously demanding justice for the victim of the gruesome crime in RG Kar.
The protests were characterised by slogans such as “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 such as a safe 24-hour transport system for women and marginalised genders and safe rest areas for professionals working at night.
Moreover, protesters clashed with police during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’, a planned march to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna. The clashes, which lasted for nearly four hours, saw protesters pelting stones and glass bottles, leading to injuries on both sides.
The doctors have decided to continue their protests until justice is done. They are also urging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to meet their demands, including better safety laws for women in healthcare facilities.
Docs-Mamata hold conversations
After four failed attempts, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a delegation of protesting doctors finally held talks on September 16 to resolve the issue.
During the meeting, Banerjee assured the doctors that the state government is with them and will extend all support to the victim’s family. The Kolkata police commissioner, along with some top health officials, were also dismissed soon after the meeting ended.
Earlier, the Mamata government had sent four invitations for talks with doctors. However, the talks could not take place due to the demand for live streaming of the meeting.
Bengal passes anti-rape law with strict 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 law passed by the Mamata Banerjee government proposes stringent punishment, including death, for convicted rapists, especially in cases where the crime results in the death of the victim or leaves them in a vegetative state.
The bill also includes provisions for tougher sentences for repeat offenders, who could be sentenced to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. It also provides for faster investigations, with a new three-week deadline for cases to be completed. This is a significant reduction from the current two-month deadline.
However, under certain conditions, an extension of up to 15 days may be granted.
In addition, the bill seeks to establish a special district-level task force, the “Aparajita Task Force”, headed by a deputy police chief.
Ongoing research
The CBI is currently investigating several issues in the case, including proper filing of statutory bail for the autopsy and possible tampering of the crime scene or destruction of evidence.
The Supreme Court has observed that revealing details of the ongoing probe “could jeopardise the line of investigation” and has urged the CBI to reveal the “absolute truth”.
The court also highlighted the challenges faced by the CBI due to a “five-day delay” in the investigation, hampering its progress.
As the investigation continues, the country awaits justice for the victim and hopes that the arrests and ongoing investigation will lead to the truth coming out and the perpetrators being brought to justice.
The case underscores the urgent need for better safety measures for women in professional settings and the importance of swift and thorough investigations into such heinous crimes.
