The Kolkata Police on Saturday arrested a civic police volunteer in the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College, which triggered massive protests across medical colleges in West Bengal. The accused was produced before a city court and was remanded to 14 days in police custody.
The accused was associated with Kolkata Police as a civic police volunteer since 2019 and at present engaged in Disaster Management Group of the police. According to sources, he used to visit the hospital to admit patients.
Under criticism from several quarters on the law and order situation in the State, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (August 10, 2024) said that she has no hesitation in handing over the probe to an independent agency if the family so demands.
Speaking to a Bengali television news channel ABP Ananda, the Chief Minister said she will hand over the probe to another agency if family so desires. Ms. Banerjee also added that the case should be tried by a fast track court.
A 31-year-old lady doctor was found dead at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on Friday morning (August 9, 2024). The doctor, a post graduate trainee was on the night shift and had retired to a seminar room of the health facility at about 2 a.m.
Commissioner of Kolkata Police Vineet Kumar Goyal said there are signs of sexual assault on the body of the victim. “Case has been started under charges of rape and murder,” Mr. Goyal said. “If there are any demands from the family that the probe be handed over to an independent agency, we have no problem,” the Commissioner said, adding that the Kolkata Police was conducting investigation in a transparent manner.
“The investigation was carried out through-out the night, we have found several evidences and on the basis of these evidences, we have arrested one person,” he said
When asked about the accused being associated with the Kolkata Police as a civic police volunteer, Mr. Goyal said, “For us he is a criminal of the highest order and which deserves highest punishment”.
He added that CCTV cameras in the hospital has confirmed his presence at the hospital and accused had no business of being at the scene of the crime at such an odd hour. The family members of the deceased doctor had said that hospital was unable to provide security to their daughter. The father of the doctor alleged that initially the administration tried to hush up the incident but later under pressure of protesting doctors, the police has arrested one person.
According to police sources, the accused Sanjay Roy was seen in a CCTV footage near the seminar hall of the third floor of the hospital building. A wireless headphone which the accused was wearing was found near the body which the accused was seen wearing in the CCTV camera.
BJP State president Sukanta Majumdar said that administration is trying to hush up the incident and the party workers are protesting to ensure that probe is handed over to an independent agency.
