The family of the trainee doctor allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the case by hurriedly cremating their daughter’s body and offering them a bribe. The allegations were made public on Wednesday.
Parents Claim Police Attempted to Bribe Them
According to the victim’s father, the police initially prevented the family from viewing the body and forced them to wait at the station while the body underwent a post-mortem. “A senior police official later offered us money, which we declined,” the father told news agency PTI. He and other family members joined a protest at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital with junior doctors demanding justice for their daughter.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
On August 9, the body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor was discovered in a semi-naked state in a seminar hall at the medical college. The prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, was arrested the following day after CCTV footage placed him at the scene and his Bluetooth headphones were found nearby. Roy allegedly assaulted the doctor before killing her by throttling and smothering her.
A week later, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI.
Ongoing Protests and Public Outcry
In the wake of the incident, widespread protests erupted nationwide, with demonstrators, including doctors, calling for justice. On Tuesday, junior doctors presented a hand-made artificial spine to the city police commissioner, Vineet Goyal, demanding his resignation for alleged mishandling of the case.
On Wednesday, junior doctors continued their strike across state-run hospitals in West Bengal, severely affecting health services. That night, thousands of women across West Bengal participated in the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, while Kolkata residents held a candlelight vigil and turned off their lights for an hour in a show of solidarity and demand for justice.
