Rape and murder of doctor at Kolkata hospital has sparked nationwide protests
Calcutta:
The father of the 31-year-old doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata received a phone call on Friday morning. The caller said that his daughter had committed suicide. When he rushed to the hospital, he was told that his daughter’s body had been found half-naked and with bruises in a seminar hall. Investigations later revealed that the doctor had been raped and murdered in an attack so brutal that it has shocked the nation.
“The assistant director of the pulmonology department called and said, ‘Your daughter has died by suicide.’ And then we saw the reality when we got to the hospital,” the woman’s father told media, adding that the official did not identify himself by name during the call.
The father's comments have led to allegations that the college board attempted a cover-up after the female doctor's body was found. According to the investigation, she had dinner with four colleagues from the night shift on Thursday night. Police are also speaking to them, among others, to get to the bottom of the matter.
Sanjoy Roy, a volunteer who regularly worked at the hospital, has been arrested. If there are more perpetrators involved, they will be arrested in the next four to five days, according to the police.
Top doctors called in
The deputy director and head of the pulmonology department at the state hospital have been summoned to investigate why the woman's family was told she had committed suicide.
The woman's mother told the media that even after they reached the hospital, they were not allowed to see the body. “I fell at their feet and begged them to let me see my daughter. But they didn't. No one understands what I went through. They let us see her at 2pm.”
The family members told the media that the victim called her mother that evening and told her to go to dinner. “We were planning her wedding next year,” a family member said.
The family said they are not getting their daughter back, but they do want justice. “She went to serve the people and ultimately sacrificed herself. We only want justice, we don't want anything else.”
Director leaves, takes on new role
The authorities of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have come under fire for their initial response to the hair-raising incident. Principal Dr Sandip Ghosh resigned yesterday, saying he could not cope with the humiliation and criticism on social media over comments he alleged were wrongly attributed to him. Subsequently, in a development that drew fierce criticism, Dr Ghosh was appointed principal of another medical college in Kolkata within four hours.
Students of the city’s Calcutta National Medical College have opposed the move, asking how the principal who failed to ensure safety at one campus can succeed at another. The students have also locked the doors of the principal’s office and say they will not allow him to work.
Is there an 'insider'?
The woman's family has alleged that someone in the pulmonary department could be involved in the horrific crime. “We want an investigation into the entire pulmonary department. We think someone from within is involved,” they have told the media. “What is the guarantee that it was a supari murder?” Asked if his daughter had any animosity towards anyone in the department. “No, but anyone can be jealous.”
The family raised this suspicion when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police Chief Vineet Goyal visited them.
“There were nurses and security, I still cannot understand how this incident could have happened. The police informed me that someone was inside,” Ms Banerjee said yesterday.
The state government has given the city police till Sunday to complete the investigation, failing which the CBI will initiate an inquiry into the matter.
