OUTRAGE AND DEMAND FOR JUSTICE AND SAFETY

 

The horrifying occurrence of 9th August 2024, shocked the entire nation, when a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata was allegedly raped and murdered on duty. The victim's semi-naked body was found in the seminar hall the next morning, which resulted nationwide demonstrations and outcry.  Physicians across the country protested the tragedy, calling for a  law ensuring safety for all resident doctors in colleges and hospitals. Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College refused to work, except for emergency services, various student associations and medical bodies across the country held hands and joined the protests. Later, they even refused to offer emergency assistance.

The response of local police towards the incident was strongly censured. They were accused of delaying the filing of an FIR for over 12 hours. The parents of the victim have alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched to tamper with evidence in connection to their daughter's death. Medicos came together accusing the authorities of tampering of evidence and misleading information. The hospital dispensation and police first tried to brush the rape and murder as suicide also Multiple people were allowed into the crime scene before the arrival of forensic team.

The hospital authorities were criticised. The protesting students demanded for the resignation of former head of the college, Dr. Sandip Ghosh,  who attempted to insinuate that the woman PGT had psychological problems and failed to ensure staff safety. However, he resigned as the Principal just 24 hours later but his resignation wasn't accepted and he appointed as the principal of CNMC. As soon as this news became public the students erupted in protest not allowing him to enter the campus and resume charge. Later high court instructed him to go on a compulsory leave.

A police enquiry against Sanjoy Roy, a 33-year-old civic volunteer with access to various hospital departments, was accused and arrested after evidence linked him to the crime. 

Government hospitals across the country,

With the students, doctors and even the family members protesting against the brutal rape and murder case , experienced significant disruption in outpatient services and routine surgeries.

The Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe to the central bureau of investigation (CBI). A special team of CBI was also sent to Kolkata for the probe.

According to the recent CBI report, the first call to the victim's parents was at 10:53 am, when they were informed that she is unwell. The next call was made at 11:15 am, informing the parents that their daughter had died by suicide. This 22 minutes gap between the call to victim's family raised more doubts about what happened in the 22 minute period. CBI has also sought the court's permission to run a polygraphy teston Sanjay Roy, the prime accused with the hospital's ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and four of the victim's colleagues, suspecting there was more to what all of the have been telling them.

The doctors were asked to resume their services by both the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court. The junior doctors of Bengal made the decision to continue with their strike while their colleagues from other states go back to work.

 The Supreme Court of India has formed a National Task Force (NTF) to improve safety procedures for medical workers, particularly women. 

Also, the court mandated increased security at the hospital which lead to significant changes, such as better illumination of hospital stretches, more uniformed security guards at entry and exit points, more female officers within the hospital premises and introduction to a new toll free number - 18003455678- that students as well as female relatives of the patients can call in case if emergency.