Monday marks one month since a 31-year-old trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered on the premises of Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, exposing a shocking attempt at covering up the heinous crime that shook the country’s conscience.
A day before the Supreme Court hearing in the case, Bengal was on the streets again, demanding justice for Abhaya. The doctor’s parents, who also attended the demonstration on Sunday, asked people to support them in their fight for the truth.
“From early childhood, my daughter wanted to become a doctor. In her last moments, she would have been shouting for me. But we could not do anything. We would have got justice but police have damaged evidence. We request you all to stay by us so that justice can be done,” said the victim’s mother.
In the last one month, the state has witnessed an unprecedented movement. From the aam aadmi to Ola and Uber drivers, rickshaw pullers, people who make idols during Durga Puja, film stars, painters — all were on the roads as one slogan reverberated across the state — ‘We Want Justice’.
Recap of RG Kar Horror
It was 9.30am on August 9 when the victim’s body was spotted in the hospital’s seminar hall. Police were informed at 10.10am and, according to the cops, they reached the premises at 10.30am.
As student doctors launched an agitation seeking the truth, Abhaya’s parents claimed they were made to wait at the hospital for three hours before they could see their daughter’s body which was brutalised. The bereaved parents then briefed the media, alleging that their daughter was murdered.
The police administration also faced flak from the parents and doctors and under pressure, chief minister Mamata Banerjee spoke to the family on August 9. She also visited the parents on the 11th.
Soon, on the basis of CCTV footage, police arrested a civic volunteer named Sanjay Roy. As the investigation progressed, the role of principal Sandip Ghosh also came under the scanner, with students alleging he was corrupt and used his might in college.
READ MORE | ‘She’s Unwell…Hurry…She Might’ve Died By Suicide’: Calls To Doctor’s Parents Prove RG Kar Flip-Flop?
The case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the insistence of the parents and the BJP. During this time, sudden construction right opposite the crime scene in the hospital irked students who alleged that it was an attempt to compromise the scene.
The protests soon spread across India and on August 14, women took to the streets to reclaim the night in Bengal. However, this was marred by violence as miscreants vandalised the emergency wing of the hospital. This again brought the spotlight on the Kolkata Police who questioned police inaction.
Amid the ruckus, the former deputy superintendent of RG Kar, Akhtar Ali, complained about Ghosh running a racket from the hospital, including trafficking bio-medical waste and selling unclaimed bodies.
The Supreme Court, taking suo moto cognisance of the case, asked CBI and Kolkata Police to submit their status report.
In the most recent twist in the case, the parents of the victim have alleged that police tried to offer them money to dismiss the case.
One month down, there has only been one arrest so far in the rape and murder case despite several polygraph tests conducted by the CBI.
Financial Irregularities
The CBI also arrested Ghosh and four other people in the case of financial irregularities. Ghosh’s residence was also raided by the Enforcement Directorate.
Political Fallout
The BJP has been on the roads from Day One, protesting in Dharmatola and covertly supporting the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ to demand the resignation of Mamata Banerjee. According to party insiders, BJP wants to stretch the momentum till 2026 when the assembly polls will be held in the state. Apart from BJP, the Left too is on the roads, demanding justice for the victim.
READ MORE | ‘Harassed by Principal’s Coterie, Tried Taking My Life’: RG Kar Students Reveal Pressure at Hospital
The TMC was not too active initially but was later forced to come into damage-control mode. What added to the party’s woes was internal dissent as leaders like Shantanu Sen, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, and now Jawhar Sirkar expressed their disappointment with the way the case was handled. Abhishek Banerjee, too, was unhappy with the administration’s dealing of the case but tried to minimise damage by demanding a law awarding capital punishment to rapists. After Mamata Banerjee’s assent, the Aparajita Bill was passed in the Bengal assembly and now rests with the President for the final nod.
Ahead of Durga Puja, there is only one slogan renting the air — “Amar Durga Bichar Chae” (My Durga Wants Justice). For now, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court on Monday.
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