The semi-nude body of a 28-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor was discovered in a government hospital in Kolkata on Friday, with initial police findings suggesting she was sexually assaulted and murdered.
The victim, a second-year student in the respiratory medicine department at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was found in the chest seminar room on the fourth floor of the emergency building, a senior police official reported. Her body bore multiple injuries.
“Preliminary autopsy findings indicate sexual assault and murder,” the officer said, adding that a murder case has been registered and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate.
The autopsy also revealed bloodstains on the victim’s private parts, mouth, and eyes, as well as injuries on her face, abdomen, left ankle, neck, right ring finger, and lips. “A bone near the neck was fractured, suggesting possible strangulation,” the officer added, estimating the time of death between 3 am and 6 am.
The victim’s mother described her daughter’s condition as semi-nude, with her glasses broken. “My daughter was raped and murdered,” her father stated, adding that their last conversation was around 11 pm on Thursday.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly called the victim’s parents, assuring them of an impartial investigation.
A hospital doctor, speaking anonymously, mentioned that the victim had been on duty the night before and had dinner with juniors before heading to the seminar room to rest, as there was no designated on-call room. Her body was discovered the following morning by a security guard, with her belongings—laptop, bag, and phone—found at the scene.
In response to the incident, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and West Bengal Health Secretary NS Nigam visited the hospital and met with senior officials. Police have reviewed the duty roster for that night and are interviewing staff, though no CCTV cameras were installed in the seminar room.
The incident sparked protests among the hospital’s PG trainees and doctors, who demanded the autopsy be conducted in the presence of a judicial magistrate, with two PG trainees and the victim’s family present. They also called for the autopsy to be recorded on video.
An 11-member committee, led by Dr. B Mukherjee, the dean of the student body, has been established by the hospital to investigate the case.
The case has also led to political tensions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led government of trying to cover up the incident. The BJP has called for a CBI investigation and requested that the autopsy be conducted at a central government hospital.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) responded, with MP Santanu Sen asserting that the investigation would be transparent and impartial under Banerjee’s administration, and that those responsible would face justice.
