Horrific rape & murder of Kolkata woman doctor sparks massive outrage across India

Doctors and paramedical staff across India went on strike on August 12 to condemn the horrific sexual assault and murder of a young woman trainee doctor that has sparked massive outrage across India.

The semi-nude body of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor with multiple injuries was found at the seminar hall of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College on August 9.

Doctors and medical students of AIIMS Delhi held a massive protest on August 12 against the sexual assault and murder of a woman doctor. The protestors demanded speedy trial and exemplary punishment to the accused involved in the horrific crime.

The Federation Of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), on August 11 gave the call for a nationwide strike to extend support to the ongoing movement for justice to the victim and express solidarity with the family of the deceased. National Doctors’ Association has called for a nationwide protest on August 13.

Meanwhile, doctors and other medical staff in West Bengal ceased work and went on an indefinite strike effective August 12 to mount pressure on the authorities to ensure a speedy trial and stringent punishment for the accused. The junior doctors, medical professionals, postgraduate trainees, and house staff in medical colleges and hospitals across West Bengal held protests on August 12 demanding justice for the victim.

Principal RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh August 12 resigned from his post. “The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign. I am getting defamed on social media. I don’t like that this should happen to anyone in the future,” he said.

Members of the Resident Doctor Association August 12 met the Health Ministry secretary and submitted a memorandum. They demanded a CBI inquiry, a fast-track court, the removal of the principal RG Kar Medical College, and the implementation of the Central Protection Act.

West Bengal authorities on August 11 removed Superintendent RG Kar Medical College amid a massive outrage and protests across the country particularly the state. Even as police arrested the accused Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, on August 10, the protests showed no signs of abating with the demand for exemplary punishment to the accused growing louder and wider with each passing day.

The state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and National Medical College Kolkata have become the epicenter of cease-work protests since August 9. The strike has severely impacted the patient care and caused immense hardships to patients across hospitals in West Bengal.

In a bid to destroy the evidence, the accused Roy washed his clothes after committing the crime.

"The accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. He washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search," NTDV quoted a police officer probing the case, as having said.

Meanwhile, PTI citing a police officer on August 11 reported that there was circumstantial evidence also indicating a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

CCTV footage showed Roy entering the emergency building at 4 am, wearing a Bluetooth device in his ears. However, the device was not seen when he came out of the building after 40 minutes. The device was connected to Roy's mobile phone, police said.
The hospital authorities on August 10 expelled the two security persons contractually employed at the emergency ward for dereliction of their duties.

‘Death penalty to the accused’

West Bengal's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee August 10 sought the death penalty for the accused behind the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor, hours before he was arrested. Banerjee stated that her administration would not object to a CBI probe if the students and the victim's family sought it.

The accused was nabbed barely six hours after a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) was set up. Roy charged under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of BNS was produced before the Sealdah court, which remanded him to police custody till August 23.

“Based on circumstantial evidence and statements provided by doctors who were on night duty, the suspect has been charged with rape and murder,” said Vineet Goyal, Kolkata Police Commissioner.

"This is a heinous crime, and the arrested person is allegedly involved based on circumstantial evidence, including accounts of the other doctors present during night-duty hours," he told reporters on August 10.

Indefinite strike in Delhi hospitals

In a show of solidarity with the victim and to demonstrate anger over the incident, Government hospitals in Delhi have announced an indefinite strike starting August 11, suspending all elective services.

The hospitals in the capital will shut outpatient departments (OPDs), and operation theatres (OTs), and suspend ward duties effective August 12, according to a statement. The strike aims to mount pressure on authorities to address the safety concerns of healthcare workers and ensure justice for the victim.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) August 11 vehemently denounced the horrific crime.
Medical professionals including doctors, postgraduate students, and educators, in Kerala, announced to hold demonstrations at government medical colleges throughout the state on August 12.

"The safety of women doctors, who are part of the night duty and emergency department duty work, has always been a matter of concern." the association said in a statement.

‘Numerous injury marks on the body’

The post-mortem report mentioned many injuries on the victim's body. "There was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth and injuries over the face. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts. She has injuries in her belly, left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger, and... lips." As per the report.

The report also documented a broken collarbone.