KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the home of the post-graduate trainee doctor who was tragically raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The visit occurred around 12:45 PM on Monday, where the chief minister met with the grieving parents and relatives of the deceased.
After the meeting, CM Banerjee expressed her deep sorrow over the incident and stated that the Kolkata Police are diligently working on the case. However, she emphasized that if significant progress is not made by Sunday, the investigation would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). “This is an extremely painful incident. Anyone involved must be punished immediately. We want this case to be fast-tracked to expedite the judicial process,” she said.
The chief minister also raised concerns about the security lapses at the hospital, noting, “I am shocked that despite the presence of nurses and hospital security, this incident occurred. I have directed the police to investigate thoroughly. The victim’s parents believe someone from inside the hospital is involved. As a result, we have removed the principal, the Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal (MSVP), the Head of Department (HOD), and the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from their positions. We have also deployed a dog squad, video surveillance team, and forensic experts to aid in the investigation. If the Kolkata Police are unable to solve the case by Sunday, we will transfer it to the CBI.”
The young doctor’s body was discovered in the seminar hall on Friday morning, and a civic volunteer was arrested the following day in connection with the crime.
In response to the incident, doctors have been protesting, demanding a magisterial inquiry and have even ceased providing emergency services. To manage the situation, the state government has canceled the leave of all senior doctors, expecting them to handle the patient load during this crisis.
The protesting doctors have received support from across the country, with the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association of India (FORDA) endorsing the strike. FORDA has called for a nationwide suspension of elective services on Monday and has informed the Union Health Ministry of their decision.
