Kolkata doctor rape-murder: How the Sanjay Roys flout every point in rulebook
Times of India | 12 August 2024
Cops In front of the emergency ward of RG Kar on Sunday KOLKATA: Arrested for the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy is accused of blatantly disregarding every rule in the book.
A case in Calcutta High Court dealing with excesses of the civic volunteers in the state had paved way to state producing a rulebook specifying their exact role.Following directions of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha in March 2023, the state inspector general of police (welfare) had submitted a circular which highlighted the five areas in which civic volunteers can assist the police.
Taking note that a civic volunteer was entrusted with patrolling duties in the particular case, Justice Mantha had said that they cannot be entrusted with any law enforcement duties. The police were asked to ensure that the same was kept in mind when dealing with them in future.
In Roy's case, he joined as a civic volunteer in 2019 in a disaster management group but using the "right channel" he got shifted to the welfare cell wing. He claimed to be the PA of an influential cop while to others he claimed himself to be a home guard.
In the circular presented in the court it was specified that civic volunteers are to "assist" the police. In this case, Roy, even though a civic volunteer, claimed to be part of the force. It was learnt that he was issued a bike and he used to take it around with a sticker of Kolkata Police.
Considering civic volunteers were hired to assist the police but cannot be given any law enforcement duties, as per the state circular, Roy seemed to have flouted the rule by posing as a member of the police force, exerting powers similar to a cop.
On multiple occasions, he was posted at RG Kar Hospital's police outpost, sometimes for long stretches. It gave him easier access to the hospital. It was claimed that Roy, being a civic volunteer, was allowed to enter and exit the hospital whenever he wanted.
In the rulebook, it is clearly mentioned that civic volunteers can assist the police in any other duties or responsibilities relating to public assistance to be assigned by respective heads of the unit. The role of civic volunteer limits them to assisting police in traffic management, in major festivals, ensuring public safety and unauthorised parking of vehicles.
Roy was a civic volunteer attached with the police welfare board and often found residing in Kolkata Police 4th battalion quarters. Locals claimed he used to say in his neighbourhood that he works as the Kolkata Armed Police and even took money from people promising them police jobs.
The civic volunteers are not recruited like other uniformed personnel, officers said. They first have to appear before an interview board comprising a DCP-ranked officer, an assistant police commissioner and an Inspector. They are usually attached to a unit headed by a DCP ranked officer. Once selected they have to undergo only a two-week training course under the DCP (Home Guards). A civic volunteer just needs to have a class VIII pass certificate, no criminal antecedent and has to be physically and mentally fit. There is no other screening process for these volunteers for assisting police.