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Mamata Banerjee Says Will Hand Over Doctor’s Rape-Murder Probe To CBI If…

August 14, 2024 by

Mamata Banerjee Says Will Hand Over Doctor's Rape-Murder Probe To CBI If...

RG Kar Hospital Rape Murder Case: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met the victim’s family (File).

Kolkata:

The police will have time till Sunday to solve the rape-murder last week of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, failing which the CBI will take over the case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday afternoon. The deadline for the state cops – whom Ms Banerjee backed and praised as “the best in the world” – comes amid intense political pressure by the BJP.

“If there are more accused… and all are not arrested by Sunday… we will hand over the case to the CBI,” the Chief Minister said after meeting the family of the victim, and threw in a swipe at the federal agency, which reports to the BJP.

“… we will hand over even though their success rate is low,” she said, referring to cases taken by the CBI, like the theft of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize, but which had seen “no justice till date..”

Last week too, the Chief Minister said she has no objection to the CBI – which reports to the BJP-led union government – taking charge of this case, particularly if that was the demand of protesting medical professionals. “… if agitating students want probe by another agency, we are not against it.”

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, speaking after Ms Banerjee’s deadline, outlined steps being taken by the cops to solve this crime. “We are certain… in the next four or five days, if there are more culprits, we will be able to arrest them,” he said, “We have started a helpline… doctors can give information by calling (and) can communicate anonymously… if they have suspicions.”

“We are in touch with family members. We will stay in touch and share progress with them… If, even after that, family is not satisfied then whatever madam (Ms Banerjee) has said will happen,” he said.

The doctor was found on Friday morning in the seminar hall of the state-run hospital.

The initial autopsy report said the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts, as also on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

READ | ‘Eye Injuries, Neck Bone Broken’: Details In Kolkata Rape-Murder

Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the crime. The incident has sparked nationwide protests by doctors and the political opposition.

READ | Doctor’s Rape-Murder Accused Posed As Cop, Said “Hang Me”

The man, Sanjoy Roy, had returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.

This morning the Principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh, who has been accused of victim-blaming, resigned, declaring that he “cannot take the humiliation” and alleged “political statements” against him.

READ | Principal Quits After Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder, Protests Across India

“Students are being provoked to ensure my removal. I want the accused to be punished. I am being defamed. I have not made such remarks,” he told the media this morning. “The girl who died was like my daughter. I am also a parent. As a parent, I am resigning,” he said.

Earlier, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had targeted Dr Ghosh and demanded his suspension.

“His misleading statements and carefree attitude in the aftermath of this tragic incident expose his indifference towards the victim,” Mr Adhikari said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, doctors from hospitals across India have announced an indefinite strike.

READ | Doctors Across India To Go On Indefinite Strike Over Kolkata Murder

Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities have said all elective services will be halted till a probe is completed. The protesters are also demanding adequate security for all medical staff.

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How Bluetooth Headset Led Kolkata Cops To Trainee Doctor’s Murder Accused

August 14, 2024 by

The accused has been identified as Sanjoy Roy.

Kolkata:

A man has been arrested for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata. The postgraduate medical student was found dead at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Sanjoy Roy is a civic volunteer, suggest reports, but Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal did not confirm the accused’s profession at a press conference despite multiple queries.

“Whatever he may be, he is a criminal as he committed such a heinous crime. He deserves punishment of the highest order. Evidence against him has been collected,” the senior officer said.

There were signs of sexual assault, the top cop confirmed yesterday, citing the post-mortem report.

Roy had left behind his Bluetooth headphone at the crime scene, which led to his arrest. This turns out to be the main evidence against him even as CCTV footage also located him there at the likely time of occurrence.

Other physical evidences have also been collected from the spot.

“We are extremely sad and angered because of the incident. We are with the family members and doctors. We are following a transparent investigation process. If there is any demand from the family for a probe by some other agency, we have no problem,” added the top cop.

The autopsy, conducted in the presence of a magistrate, was videographed and her family members were present as witnesses.

The police have formed a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) along with the forensics team. It is being headed by the Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Department and supervised by a senior cop in the rank of Additional Commissioner of Police.

Students Concerned Over Safety

Students have raised concerns over their safety and security on the campus after the shocking incident.

BJP activists had held demonstrations at the hospital over the incident, but students have maintained they won’t allow politics inside the hospital campus.

The incident has also sparked a political slugfest with both BJP and CPM ruling out police probe as inadequate. “The arrest could be an eyewash. Only a CBI probe can uncover the truth and deliver justice,” state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar has said.

The ruling Trinamool has urged against politicisation of the issue.

“Instead of cheap politics, the BJP should bring an ordinance for speedy trial in case of heinous crimes like rape and as opposition we will support it,” said Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee as he sought a mechanism that ensures a seven-day trial in cases where there is circumstantial evidence.

“The accused should either be given capital punishment (hanged till death) or encountered. These people don’t deserve a place in society and no point wasting money on them during a trial that continues for years,” said Mr Banerjee.

“Nothing To Hide”: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the incident “unfortunate and despicable” and said the anger of her colleagues is justified. She has urged the protesting doctors not to ignore the patients and assured them they won’t face any problem.

“I spoke to the victim’s family and assured them of proper action. I have directed for the case to be taken to a fast-track court. If needed, the accused will be hanged, even though I am not pro-capital punishment. They should be given the strictest punishment,” she told a local TV channel.

Ms Banerjee also said she has no objection to demands for a central agency probe since the administration has “nothing to hide”.

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Chilling Details In Kolkata Rape-Murder

August 14, 2024 by

The rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor has sparked massive protests

Kolkata:

The body of the 31-year-old doctor raped and murdered on duty at RG Kar Medical Hospital in Kolkata had multiple injury marks suggesting violent assault, an initial autopsy report has revealed. “There was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth, injuries over the face and nail. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts. She also has injuries in her belly, left leg… neck, in her right hand, ring finger and… lips,” the report said. It also ruled out suicide.

“This is definitely not a case of suicide; the woman was murdered following sexual assault,” a police officer told news agency PTI.

“Her neck bone was also found broken. It seems that she was first strangulated and then smothered to death. We are waiting for the full report of the autopsy,” another police officer told PTI.

One person has been arrested in connection with the crime that has shaken the state and sparked massive protests by doctors. The Opposition has targeted the Mamata Banerjee government over the incident at the state-run hospital. The ruling Trinamool Congress has responded that it is leaving no stone unturned to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrator and said it is open to a central agency investigation too.

The victim was a postgraduate trainee of chest medicine and was on night duty when the incident took place. Her body was found on Friday morning at a seminar hall of the hospital.

A doctor at the hospital told PTI, “She had dinner with her juniors around 2 am. She then went to the seminar room since there is no separate on-call room to take some rest. In the morning, we found her body there.”

The accused, according to multiple reports, is a civic volunteer. The police, however, refused to confirm this and said that he is only a criminal for them. The accused, it is learnt, was tracked down after police found a bluetooth headset at the crime scene. Police then tracked the CCTV footage that placed him at the crime spot.

The incident has sparked a massive political row, with the BJP and other Opposition parties demanding a CBI probe. Union Minister and state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar has said, “You can hide the data in the National Crime Records. But the kind of incidents that are happening prove that they (women) are not in a good situation.”

The ruling Trinamool Congress has said they are open to a probe by any agency. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has assured that she will seek death penalty for the perpetrator. Ms Banerjee’s nephew and Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has said those convicted in such cases should be given “capital punishment or encounter”. “The Centre should bring in an ordinance calling for immediate action against such culprits. This could be made into an amendment after six months,” he said, assuring that the Trinamool will support such a law. He hoped that the other Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, would have no objection either.

Mr Banerjee said such a law would prevent prolonged trials that can last five to six years and save taxpayers’ money. “These rapists, who don’t deserve to live in society, should be dealt with either through encounter or by hanging,” he said.

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