Kolkata doctor rape and murder Highlights: BJP questions reappointment of RG Kar hospital principal; TMC urges CBI to expedite probe

The CBI, probing the rape-murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, has been granted permission to conduct a polygraph test on the accused, a civic volunteer in the agency’s custody, as protests continue to disrupt healthcare services in State-run hospitals across West Bengal for the eleventh straight day.

The CBI, tasked by the Calcutta High Court to probe the case, received local court approval to conduct a polygraph test on the accused, days after performing a psychoanalysis test on him. - PTI

The Health Ministry has allowed enhancement of security deployment by 25% at all Union government hospitals, official said, amid protests by resident doctors demanding a Central law following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital.

Officials said that apart from the standard security protocol, the deployment of marshals would also be approved based on individual demands by government hospitals after they conduct their security assessment.

Official sources, however, said bringing a Central law based on the RG Kar case “will not make any huge difference” as the alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor at the Kolkata facility was not a case of patient-doctor violence. - PTI

BJP’s West Bengal unit on Monday asked why Sandip Ghosh, under whose principalship the alleged rape-murder of woman doctor took place in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was reinstated as principal of another government medical college within hours of his purported resignation.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar criticised the swift reappointment of Ghosh as the principal of National Medical College and Hospital, questioning the rationale behind the decision. “We want to know what exceptional or noteworthy work he has done to warrant such influence,” Mr. Majumdar said during a press conference. - PTI

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called for the immediate enactment of a legislation to protect medical personnel, following the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at a State-run hospital in Kolkata.

The party’s politburo, in a strongly worded statement, condemned both the Central and West Bengal governments for their inadequate responses to the incident, which has sparked nationwide protests among doctors and the general public. - PTI

The rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which sparked widespread outrage across West Bengal, exposed a rift within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over how to handle the issue and the ensuing protests.

“There are differences within the party on how the incident should have been tackled. Some feel the State’s response has been slow, allowing the protests to escalate. Others believe that Opposition parties have seized the opportunity to use the protests against the government,” a senior TMC leader said on condition of anonymity. - PTI

Amidst the ongoing protests in West Bengal, State Governor C.V.Ananda Bose is likely to meet President Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday. - Shiv Sahay Singh

The BJP on August 19 called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “shameless” and demanded her resignation, alleging that crucial evidence was destroyed at her behest to save the culprits in the rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata.

It also slammed leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc, including the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, and called them “political vultures”, alleging that they “generalised” the trainee doctor’s rape and murder by expressing a general concern over such cases reported in different parts of the country, including those in BJP-ruled States.

“Mamata Banerjee has become Mamata, the destroyer. By her misdeeds she destroyed the dignity of a woman, a doctor who was serving the society. Mamata Banerjee is the destroyer of the rule of law and the Constitution,” BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. - PTI

Senior TMC Minister Udayan Guha has sparked controversy by claiming that fingers of those blaming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and demanding her resignation over the rape and murder of the woman doctor, in Kolkata, would be broken. PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video clip that has gone viral.

“Those who are attacking Mamata Banerjee, pointing fingers at her, and demanding her resignation will never succeed. Fingers of those pointing fingers at Mamata Banerjee will be broken and crushed,” he was heard saying in the video.

“Despite provocations, the police did not baton charge when R.G. Kar Hospital was vandalised,” he said. Drawing parallels with the student unrest in Bangladesh that led to a change of guard in the neighbouring country, Mr. Guha said, “We will never allow West Bengal to turn into another Bangladesh.”

Senior doctors Kunal Sarkar and Subarna Goswami appeared before the police on Monday afternoon (August 19, 2024) in connection with the posts they shared on social media over the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Dr. Sarkar and Dr. Goswami reached the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lal Bazar leading a march of doctors. The procession that began at the Medical College, Calcutta, was stopped by the police near Phears Lane-BB Ganguly Street Crossing, and the two doctors were escorted to the police headquarters by senior officers.

They were asked by the police to appear before it for the posts they shared on social media. “We want justice for that young doctor, and we have not committed any crime,” Dr. Sarkar said.

Manas Gumta, a protesting doctor, said that medics would intensify the stir if attempts were made to stifle the “demands seeking justice”. - PTI

Junior doctors in Uttar Pradesh medical colleges and hospitals observed “Kala Raksha Bandhan” while elective services remained disrupted for the eighth consecutive day on August 19, 2024, amid a protest over the alleged rape and murder of Kolkata doctor.

Resident doctors in several States have withdrawn elective services, including at outpatient departments (OPDs), over the incident.

U.P. Resident Doctors’ Association State president Hardeep Jogi said, “The strike by junior doctors is on its eighth day. OPD and other services are disrupted in all the medical colleges. Today, on Raksha Bandhan, junior doctors observed ‘Kala Raksha Bandhan’,” he said.

Mr. Jogi said the association would also write to the State government to ensure the safety of junior doctors working in medical colleges. - PTI

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said the credibility of the Mamata Banerjee government is zero in the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

“Mamata Banerjee wants to save herself and wants to hide the role of the accused in the case. If you hear the statements of TMC MPs, they are giving the wrong statements as if they are the doctors themselves and they are not talking anything really about the case. All of this proves that the credibility of the Mamata Banerjee government is zero in this case,” Brinda Karat said.

Ms. Karat further commented on the summon of TMC MP Sukhendu Shekar Ray by Kolkata police.”The Rajya Sabha MP [Sukhendu Shekar Ray] tried to play a sensitive role in this case, and immediately the police summoned him as well.” - PTI

Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging a notice sent to him by the police in connection with a social media post he made over the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The Kolkata Police served the notice to the veteran politician on Sunday (August 18, 2024), asking him to appear before it. Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj granted permission to Mr. Roy’s lawyer to file his petition challenging the notice. The court said it will hear the petition on August 20, 2024.

In his social media post, the veteran TMC MP demanded that the CBI undertake “custodial interrogation” of Kolkata Police commissioner and previous principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in connection with its probe into the alleged rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor. - PTI

Advocates of the Calcutta High Court held a protest march seeking justice for the junior lady doctor who was raped and murdered. The advocates were seen holding banners demanding justice for the victim. 

Taking part in the protest march, advocate Mousami Choudhry said “We want justice. We demand that the accused must be arrested as soon as possible and get the punishment.”

Another advocate of Calcutta High Court Navneet Mishra said “We demand that the accused should be apprehended and punished as soon as possible. Our request to the administrator is to arrest the accused. The investigation is under way and the accused will be arrested soon. The fastness of the trial depends on the court; CBI is investing in the case. CBI must investigate through all angles and present it before the court” said advocate Narendra. - ANI

Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Congress leader Pawan Khera called for an investigation followed by a discussion into the “rising” graph of crime against women in the last ten years.

“The NCRB data on crime against women in the last ten years ‘suggests that’ the graph is rising. There should be an investigation into its reasons – a discussion,” the Congress leader said.

On the statement made by Kolkata doctor’s parents, Mr. Khera said, “It is a valid question as to how vandalisation took place in the hospital?... Answers to these questions must be given.” - ANI

Counsel for victim’s family of R.G. Kar death and rape case Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya accused the West Bengal government of trying to influence witnesses in the case. 

“The role of CM in the State of West Bengal is very condemnable. Wherever there is rape she wants to immediately get into contact with the victim’s family, pay them money and say everything is over. Unfortunately, she has fixed a rate card for the rape victims. She attempts to purchase the witnesses, that attempt was also made in this case. The parents of the victim firmly refused it because they did not like to be part of the game played by the CM,” he alleged.

“On the contrary, they have given us the authority to move to court and we have done the same. The investigation is transferred to CBI. The CBI has to submit the reports in the court” he added. He further lashed out at Kolkata police adding that the role of the police is not up to the mark.

“Police commissioner should not have held the press conferences. We have seen that he is a complete failure in controlling the situation. According to me, the activity of the police after the report is not satisfactory,” the counsel claimed. - ANI

Routine services at State-run Goa Medical College and Hospital remained affected on the fourth day due to the stir by junior and resident doctors in protest against the Kolkata rape-murder.

Doctors affiliated to Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) have struck work since Friday afternoon in protest against the brutal rape and murder of Kolkata doctor. “Routine services have been partially affected due to the strike, while emergency services are going on. Out Patient Departments are working smoothly as they are managed by senior doctors. We are also taking in new admissions,” GMCH Dean Dr. Shivanand Bandekar said.

“The hospital is conducting emergency operations while “dated operations” have been rescheduled due to the strike,” Dr. Bandekar added. - PTI

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of “threatening” critics and summoning doctors in connection with the Kolkata rape and murder case. 

“Today, the question arises of when CM Mamata Banerjee will resign. Instead of it, we are witnessing that whoever is raising their voice against this issue, Mamata Banerjee’s government is sending them notice and threatening them...The police are summoning doctors,” Poonawalla said. 

Mr. Poonawalla added, “When leaders raise concerns, they are being summoned. MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has been summoned by the Kolkata Police for demanding an investigation. The government is using institutional means to destroy evidence. Calcutta High Court has already expressed displeasure with the Bengal government over this case. Now Supreme Court has taken a suo moto cognisance in this matter. Mamata Banerjee has no right to stay as a CM any more.” - PTI

Several former students of State-run R.G. Kar hospital joined the protest against the rape and murder of a doctor inside the premises of the hospital. Alongside their younger counterparts, the veteran doctors staged a sit-in protest holding placards and demanding speedy justice.

“I belong to the 1964 batch. What has happened in the hospital is just unthinkable and it is the call of the hour to hit the streets to protest”, a veteran lady doctor said. Another senior doctor said, “We have come with an infirm physique due to age. We are with the protesting doctors and we need justice”.

Healthcare services remained affected at State-run hospitals in West Bengal as junior doctors continued their cease-work protest against the rape and murder of their colleague at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. - PTI

Lawyers practising at the Calcutta High Court marched in a procession demanding justice and “punishment to the real culprits” in the alleged rape and murder of Kolkata doctor.

Several senior lawyers, including former West Bengal Advocate General Jayanta Mitra, joined the protest march. The lawyers, carrying placards and festoons demanding “punishment to the real culprits” walked in the rally near the high court during the lunch recess.

Mr. Mitra described the alleged rape and gruesome murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor in the hospital on August 9 as “a crying shame for the entire Bengali community.” - PTI

CBI officers questioned Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College, for the fourth consecutive day, in connection with their probe into the rape and murder of the woman doctor. “Dr. Ghosh reached the CBI’s city office at CGO Complex on Monday morning (August 19, 2024,)” an official said.

“Dr. Ghosh was asked to specify his role after getting the news of the death of the doctor, who he had contacted and why he made the parents wait for nearly three hours,” he said. The former principal was also questioned who had ordered the renovation of the rooms near the seminar hall at the emergency building of the hospital after the incident.

Dr. Ghosh has been questioned for several hours in the last three days by the CBI officers. The officers of the Central probe agency are also checking his mobile phone call list details as well as his WhatsApp chat list. - PTI

“A person was arrested in Kolkata for allegedly disclosing the identity on social media of the doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, and issuing threats to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” police said.

“The arrest was made after a complaint was lodged at the Taltala police station,” they added. “A complaint was received that the person with Instagram username ‘Kirtisocial’ uploaded three stories related to the incident that recently took place at the hospital, disclosing the picture and identity of the victim,” a police officer said. 

“At the same time, the accused person also shared two stories against the CM that contained offensive comments and life threats to her. Those were very much provocative in nature and might have created social unrest and promoted hatred among communities,” he said. “The accused will be produced before a court,” police said. - PTI

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said police are taking action against only those people who are posting on social media wrong information, fake audio and disclosing the name of the doctor raped and murdered in R. G. Kar Hospital. Mr. Ghosh said people can protest but in a proper manner.

“If you think you will protest, do it a hundred times in proper language. Do it a thousand times,” Mr. Ghosh posted on X. “But giving wrong information, distorted assumptions, fake audio, purposeful inciting posts, names and photos of the deceased, the police will warn you”, he said. - PTI

The Kakatiya University Retired Teachers’ Association (KURTA) has condemned the rape and murder of the junior doctor in Kolkata.

In a press release on August 18, 2024, president of the association A. Sadanandam and general secretary V. Ravinder demanded severe punishment of the culprits involved in this heinous crime, urging the government to take permanent measures to ensure the safety of women working in medical colleges.

The association also called for a societal shift, emphasising the need to eliminate deep-rooted gender bias that perpetuate such crimes.

Tariq Anwar, Congress MP from Bihar’s Katihar, said that whenever such incidents take place, the BJP tries to gain political mileage from them. 

Mr. Anwar said, “The rape and murder incident is very tragic and it should be condemned. But it should not be given a political angle. It is the weakness of the BJP and J.P. Nadda that whenever such an incident occurs, where solidarity is required, they try to gain political mileage. As the case is under the CBI, it is under the Central government, and the culprits should be nabbed quickly.” - ANI

Doctors and locals from Mumbai held a protest at Azad Maidan amid the ongoing protest over the rape, murder of the trainee doctor. One of the protesting doctors urged the government to ensure that every organisation has a safety audit.

“We request the government that every organisation should have safety audit...What is the point if we are not safe even after more than 70 years of independence? Doctors always first think of the patients and not their safety. The workplace has to be safe for us,” Dr. Prerna Gomes from Jaslok Hospital said. - ANI

Amid the protests over the rape, murder of the trainee doctor, BJP MP Arun Govil said that many things are happening in Kolkata and whatever is happening there should not happen. 

Arun Govil said, “So many things are happening in Kolkata right now. Whatever is happening there right now shouldn’t happen...it has become a very weird atmosphere...” - ANI

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said the BJP was trying to “politicise” the incident.

“The CM is on the side of the bereaved family and already hit the streets demanding exemplary punishment of culprits. The case is now being investigated by the CBI. We all want justice to be done. We all are for the security of women,” he added. - PTI

Expressing solidarity with the women protestors, senior BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, “I urge people to give a call for a march to State Secretariat Nabanna so that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee can hear the voices of protest from her office. Let there be no party colour or flag. I am ready to support the battle of the people as a citizen.” - PTI

In a rerun of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, hundreds of women took to the streets in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal on Sunday night (August 18, 2024), demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder of the doctor in R.G. Kar Hospital.

Braving intermittent rains, women of all ages and backgrounds assembled in several areas such as Jadavpur, Garia, Behala Parnashree, Khanna, Lake Town, and other city locations, and raised slogans - “We want justice”.

Protests, similar to the August 14 ‘Reclaim the Night’ gatherings across West Bengal, were also held in Madhyamgram Chowmatha in North 24 Parganas, Siliguri, Durgapur, and other locations.

Some protesters carried flaming torches, while others displayed placards, demanding exemplary punishment for those involved in the horrific crime and condemning alleged efforts by parts of the administration to shield the culprits. - PTI

JIPMER Resident Doctors Association has resorted to boycott of non-emergency services in the hospital to mark the strong condemnation of the ‘rape and murder’ in Kolkata hospital.

Noting that the boycott would continue till justice is available, the Association said in a release that it understood the impact the current strike would have on the patients. But, it was forced to continue the boycott to ensure a safe environment and protection for doctors.

The Director of JIPMER appealed to the non-serious patients and those having illness for a prolonged period of time to avoid visiting the OPD wing at JIPMER. This would help the management to cater to the seriously ill patients with the available strength of the doctors. Hoping that the current agitation by doctors would come to an end soon, the management said, “emergency services would continue at the hospital and this arrangement would continue till the situation becomes normal.” - PTI

The students’ association of State-run Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute condemned the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor in Kolkata. 

In a release, the students’ body expressed its deepest concerns regarding the gruesome incident and stated that on behalf of the medical and para-medical fraternity of the Medical college in Puducherry, the outfit demanded the immediate implementation of the Central Protection Act to ensure safety and protection of the medical students and doctors.

It also sought a fair and transparent investigation into the heinous crime perpetrated on the resident doctor and immediate measures to protect doctors and trainee doctors. The Association announced a joint peaceful rally later in the day by students, doctors, resident doctors and nurses from all the medical, paramedical colleges in Puducherry to seek justice in the case. - PTI

‘Rape’ as a clearly defined offence was first introduced in the Indian Penal Code in 1860. Prior to this, there were often diverse and conflicting laws prevailing across India. The codification of Indian laws began with the enactment of the Charter Act, 1833 by the British Parliament which led to the establishment of the first Law Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Macaulay. 

The anguish in the eyes of the doctors was evident as they marched in unison to express their shock and anger over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at the R.G. Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Scores of doctors, junior doctors and medical students participated in the rally at Beach Road, on August 18, 2024.

Carrying placards condemning the heinous crime, the participants demanded stringent punishment for the guilty, justice for the parents of the deceased and safety for doctors working in hospitals across the country. “She had worked for 36 hours at a stretch to save patients, and what did she get in return?” asked one of the participants in the rally.

The resident doctors’ association (RDA) of AIIMS on Sunday (August 18, 2024) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for enactment of a Central law via an Ordinance to protect health-care workers and institutions across the nation.

The Body has also urged for restoration of law and order at the State-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

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Doctors have decided to provide elective outpatient services outside Nirman Bhawan as they continue their strike for the eighth day over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor in Kolkata.

“Resident doctors will be available to provide elective OPD services in around 36 specialties, including medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, to patients outside Nirman Bhawan. However, emergency services will continue as before at the hospitals,” according to a statement by the AIIMS RDA. - PTI

Health-care services remained affected at the State-run hospitals in West Bengal on August 19, 2024 as junior doctors continued their cease-work protest again the rape and murder of a colleague at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Heavy rush was seen at the outpatient wards on the first day of the week with senior doctors substituting for their juniors to handle the situation.

“This protest is for seeking justice for a female doctor who faced brutality while treating patients for 36 hours at a stretch. It is the 11th day that her body was discovered, but where is the justice? We will continue this stir until we get justice for our sister,” said an agitating doctor at the R.G. Kar hospital. - PTI

The parents of the doctor who was raped and killed at the RG Kar Hospital criticised the West Bengal government for trying to stifle protests as “not one person is involved in the incident”. He also was hopeful that the CBI probe would reveal more details soon.

When asked about the condition of her daughter’s body, he said, “We were told that the body of our daughter was not initially found in the same condition as it was later kept in the seminar hall. We can’t say much as we were not allowed to see the body first-hand when we rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news.”

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