The horrifying incident of the alleged rape and murder of the 31-year-old at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College has left the country appalled and outraged. The heinous crime occurred on 9th August while the postgraduate trainee doctor was on duty; it has left many questioning the safety of doctors, especially women, in their workplace.
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Nationwide Protests
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called for protests across the country to demand justice for the victim. Medical students and practitioners everywhere have responded accordingly. Maharashtra has witnessed its youth protesting for the cause, with doctors gathering at the Azad Maidan. Students at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Mangalagiri have also expressed their aggravation.
Candlelight marches have been held in several places, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. Young women in West Bengal and across India launched the “Reclaim the Night” campaign on August 14 to voice their anger over the brutal incident. In Kolkata, the Reclaim the Night protest was even met with violence when a group of miscreants vandalized RG Kar Hospital.
The IMA went on a strike for 24 hours, from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday; all OPD services and elective surgeries were disrupted in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam and West Bengal. However, all emergency services remained unaffected. The strike was an attempt to seek PM Narendra Modi’s attention on the matter. The IMA made five major demands, including an ordinance to ensure the safety of medical practitioners.
SC take Suo moto cognisance
A 3-judge bench, including Chief Justice (CJI) D.Y Chandrachud and Justices Manoj Misra and J.B Pardiwala, yesterday took Suo moto cognizance of the case. The case will be taken up in the Supreme Court on 20th August. This cognizance follows the Calcutta High Court’s displeasure with the handling of the case by the Kolkata Police and its consequent transfer to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13.
Sanjay Roy was a civic traffic-police volunteer and has been arrested as the accused. Psychological tests are currently being conducted on him by a team of behaviour analysts from the CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory). The CBI, on Sunday, also conducted a 3-D laser- mapping of the Emergency Room at the RG Kar Hospital.
The former principal of the RG Kar Medical College- Sanjay Ghosh has undergone three extensive rounds of interrogation and is under investigation for any suspected involvement in the case. He has been asked to furnish the authorities with his call records and chat details. He has also been questioned regarding the renovation of rooms near the hospital’s seminar hall which is currently a crime scene.
Parents of the deceased dejected with CM
The parents of the deceased doctor have expressed their disappointment and loss of faith in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee. While thanking the protestors, they urged the public to continue with the agitation till all the culprits are caught. They have slammed the TMC leader for not taking appropriate action and discouraging protests demanding justice for the trainee doctor.
