Kolkata Doctor's Rape Case: An Explainer on What Happened and the Current Situation

Incident Overview

Kolkata Doctor's Rape Case:  A tragic event has shocked India: a female trainee doctor was found dead at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Her body was discovered on August 9, in a semi-nude state inside a seminar room. The doctor, a second-year student in chest medicine, had been on duty the night before. Her father believes she was raped and murdered, pointing to visible injuries and the state of her body.

Reactions and Protests

The news has led to massive protests. Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College stopped working, except in emergency services, demanding justice. Student groups organized rallies, and opposition leaders, such as BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, demanded an independent investigation. Ruling party leader Dr. Santanu Sen has stressed the importance of a detailed and transparent inquiry.

Mass Protests

On Wednesday night, tens of thousands of women across West Bengal marched to protest the rape and murder of the trainee doctor. The "Reclaim the Night" march was organized in response to the brutal attack, which happened last Friday. Women from all parts of Kolkata and West Bengal joined the march, despite heavy rain. The protests were mostly peaceful, but some clashes occurred between police and a group of men who broke into RG Kar Hospital and damaged the emergency department. Police used tear gas to control the situation, and some police vehicles were damaged. Smaller protests also took place in cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune.

Autopsy Findings

The initial autopsy report shows that the doctor was sexually assaulted and then murdered. It rules out suicide and details multiple injuries, including bleeding from her private parts, face, and other areas. The report suggests she was strangled and then smothered. The police are awaiting the full autopsy report to further investigate.

Arrest and Investigation

Sanjoy Roy, a 33-year-old civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the crime. Roy, who had access to various hospital areas, is accused of being involved in the murder. Evidence like a torn Bluetooth earphone and CCTV footage helped identify him. Roy is charged with rape and murder and is currently in judicial custody. Investigations revealed he had a history of domestic abuse and a pornography addiction.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Involvement

The case has now been transferred to the CBI. The CBI team inspected the crime scene at the hospital on Wednesday morning. According to Indian law, investigations into rape cases must be completed within two months from the filing of the First Information Report (FIR), which was lodged on August 9. This means the investigation should be completed by October 9. The West Bengal high court has instructed the CBI to provide regular updates on the investigation.

Also read: Kolkata Rape Murder Case: CBI takes the accused to Crime Branch protests In Nation

Doctors' Strike Ends

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) ended their strike after Union Health Minister JP Nadda agreed to meet their demands. FORDA called off the strike to ensure patient care continued, following a meeting with Nadda.

Authorities are continuing their efforts to bring justice for the victim and restore order at the medical college.