The accused in the alleged murder and sexual assault of a woman trainee doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata has confessed to the crime, sources in the Kolkata Police said.
As per sources, the accused, Sanjay Roy was a civic volunteer. Though officially termed as civic volunteers, many still refer to them as “civic police”, which was originally created in Bengal to assist the police. Roy had an easy access in the hospital.
Cops are also investigating certain video found in accused phone which puts a question on his character.
Roy was arrested on Saturday and was sent to 14-day police custody.
The accused was charged under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of BNS and was produced before Sealdah court, which remanded him to police custody till August 23.
In a post on X, the Raj Bhavan said Governor CV Ananda Bose has asked the state government to take immediate action in the matter and submit a report.
“HG has asked the State Government to take immediate action in the matter and submit a report. HG is also taking up the matter with the Govt of India for appropriate action,” the post said.
CM Mamata Seeks Death Penalty For Accused
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed to seek death penalty for the perpetrator in the case.
Banerjee, known for her stauch opposition to BJP seeking probe by central agencies in various corruption cases in Bengal, said her government would have no objections to a CBI probe if the students and family demand it.
“If they do not trust the West Bengal government, they can approach any investigating agency; we have no objection,” she said.
She also instructed officials to expedite the trial by moving it to a fast track court.
Maintaining that protests and processions by junior doctors demanding exemplary punishment for the accused and enhanced security at hospitals were justified, the Chief Minister urged the doctors to also carry on giving healthcare services to patients.
“I endorse the demands by the junior doctors,” she told a Bengali news channel.
The Chief Minister, who also oversees the Home and Health portfolios, announced that police camps have been set up at every hospital to prevent further assaults on doctors.
She emphasised that hospital superintendents and principals are responsible for maintaining internal security and assured that any negligence on their part will be investigated.
TMC Vs BJP Over Murder Case
The murder case has now snowballed into a political controversy, with the TMC demanding the Centre to ensure speedy justice in rape and murder cases within seven days while the BJP asking for a CBI probe.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said people accused of such henious crimes should either be given “capital punishment or encounter” as they don’t deserve a place in society.
“The Centre should bring in an ordinance calling for immediate action against such culprits. This could be made into an amendment after six months,” he said.
The Bengal BJP should write to their leadership and demand a law that ensures speedy justice in rape and murder cases within seven days, he said.
The BJP has demanded a CBI probe into the case. Union Minister of State and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the injury marks on the victim suggested involvement of more than one person in the henious crime.
Majumdar said, “The arrest of a person could be an eye wash. Only a CBI probe can uncover the entire truth and deliver justice for the young woman, who was on the verge of a promising future.”
The state BJP chief criticised police for their delayed response, suggesting that they initially tried to pass off the case as a suicide and only acted after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened. He questioned whether police need to be prompted by the CM to investigate serious incidents.
Doctor Sexually Abused Before Murder
The body of the woman doctor was found inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar Government Hospital in north Kolkata on August 9.
Preliminary autopsy reports indicated that she was sexually abused before being murdered.
The accused has been charged with rape and murder based on circumstantial evidence and testimonies from doctors who were present during night-duty hours, according to Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.
“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,” Goyal told a press conference.
Goyal said the force will ensure that the accused gets the maximum punishment if the charges are proved in court.
Protest Over Doctor’s Murder
In response to the incident, junior doctors and students at various state-run hospitals, including RG Kar Medical College, National Medical College, and Medical College, Kolkata, held protest sit-ins and processions.
Similar protests also took place at district hospitals such as Bardhaman Medical College and Bankura Sammilani Medical College.
IMA Gives 48-hour Ultimatum, Warns of Nationwide Protests
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday gave authorities a 48-hour ultimatum to complete the probe into the rape and murder of a doctor in a state-run medical college and hospital in Kolkata and warned of nationwide protests if the culprits are not arrested within the period.
The doctors’ body called for an impartial, time-bound thorough investigation and also sought a detailed inquiry into the conditions “enabling the crime” along with urgent steps to improve the safety of doctors especially women in workplace.
If safety and security cannot be ensured in the citadels of learning, it only indicates the incompetency of the administration, the IMA said.