West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday assured an action against the accused of a 39-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital saying the accused will be hanged if needed.
On the matter, she said that the loss felt personal. Banerjee said that the doctors protesting over the incident were free to approach any other agency if they had no faith in the state government. Banerjee had extended her full support to the doctors who have been holding protests over the incident.
The body of the junior doctor was discovered inside the seminar hall of the government-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on August 9.
Her statement comes amid uproar on the incident. The Trinamool Congress supremo said that she has directed the case to be taken to a fast-track court. She also assured strict action in the case.
Banerjee stated that individuals participating in the protests could seek assistance from alternative law enforcement agencies if they lacked confidence in the state administration. She emphasised the need for a thorough investigation and strict punishment for those responsible.
She also mentioned that protestors were free to turn to other law enforcement agencies regarding their demands for a central agency to probe the doctor’s death. The Chief Minister announced plans for an inquiry to determine any potential negligence by the hospital.
A Kolkata Police officer said that the incident occurred between 3 and 6 am. Subsequently, the Kolkata Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising members of the homicide department, to look into the matter.
It was revealed that the arrested suspect had unrestrained access to various hospital departments and was apprehended after authorities examined the CCTV footage.
“A suspicious outsider who appears to have direct involvement in the crime has been arrested. We are closely monitoring his activities,” a police official said.
Earlier on August 9, Leader of Opposition in Bengal and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the body of the second-year Postgraduate Student of RG Kar Medical College, who was found dead inside the Seminar Hall on the 3rd floor of the emergency building inside the campus under mysterious circumstances, reportedly had injury marks.
He added that unconfirmed reports suggest that there are signs of strangulation and traces of seminal fluid. This is a clear case of murder (with the probability of rape), he said. He demanded the case be immediately transferred to the CBI.
In a post on X, he added, “Instead the State Govt has formed an 11-member inquiry committee for this incident. Strangely some of the Committee members are Internees. In my opinion, the State Govt is either trying to sweep the matter under the mat so that the negligence on their part doesn’t get exposed or they are not at all serious about this matter.”
The BJP leader urged the Student Community to raise their voice against the lackadaisical attitude of the State government, especially the Medical Students should protest vehemently. He added that he would extend all the support to the Student fraternity as long as the deceased Student doesn’t get justice.