Police have arrested an individual suspected in the horrific sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at a State-run hospital in Kolkata on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Following the arrest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her intention to pursue the death penalty for the accused.
The suspect, an outsider known to frequent the hospital, was apprehended and subsequently remanded to 14-day police custody. He has been charged under sections pertaining to rape and murder and was presented before the Sealdah court, which extended his custody until August 23.
In a statement, Chief Minister Banerjee expressed her readiness for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry if the victim’s family or peers express doubts about the state government’s investigation capabilities. “If they do not trust the West Bengal government, they can approach any investigating agency; we have no objection,” she stated.
To accelerate justice, Banerjee directed officials to move the trial to a fast track court. The Raj Bhavan indicated that Governor CV Ananda Bose has urged prompt action from the state government regarding the incident.
The body of the woman doctor was discovered in a seminar hall at RG Kar Government Hospital on Friday, with early autopsy results suggesting sexual abuse prior to her murder. Charges were filed based on circumstantial evidence and testimonies from doctors on night duty, according to Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, who called this crime “heinous.” He pledged to ensure the accused faces maximum punishment if found guilty.
In the wake of this tragedy, junior doctors and medical students staged protests across various state-run hospitals, including RG Kar Medical College and National Medical College, to demand justice and heightened security. The Chief Minister supported the protesters’ demands but encouraged them to continue providing care to patients.
Banerjee emphasized that enhanced police presence is being established at hospitals to prevent future incidents, holding hospital superintendents accountable for internal security measures. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee remarked that individuals guilty of such crimes should face “capital punishment or encounter,” asserting that the government should enact an ordinance for immediate actions against such offenders.
Union Minister of State for West Bengal, Sukanta Majumdar, called for a CBI investigation into the incident, suggesting that the nature of the assault indicated involvement beyond a single perpetrator. Meanwhile, CPI(M) West Bengal state secretary Mohd Salim criticized the current government’s handling of safety in the city, asserting that public confidence has been shaken.
A delegation from the National Medicos Organisation expressed their concern to Governor CV Ananda Bose, advocating for improved security measures for healthcare professionals, particularly female staff on night shifts.
