Chief secretary, CP visit RG Kar hospital to monitor probe progress
The Statesman | 12 August 2024
The state’s chief secretary B P Gopalika and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Sunday amid the protests over the rape and murder of a female doctor. Junior doctors at the hospital are continuing their sit-in demonstration. The chief secretary and the Kolkata police chief took stock of the situation regarding the investigation into the rape and murder case. Prior to their arrival, officials from Lalbazar’s Detective Department had already reached the scene. Members of the scientific wing of forensic department and SIT team were there.
Later, the Commissioner of Police informed media that, in response to the students’ demands, ACP (North) Chandan Guha, who was on duty on the night of the incident, has been removed from his position. Meanwhile, the joint CP of Kolkata Police, Muralidhar Sharma met the family members at the victim’s residence and handed over the post mortem report to the parents. Later he informed the Press that police took note of their requests regarding investigation matters and police also apprised them the current situation of the investigation. The victim’s father later told the Press that it should be investigated whether key accused was given any contract to kill his daughter.
On Sunday, the Resident Doctors’ Association at RG Kar Medical College held a press conference where they presented a four-point charter of demands. The junior doctors have stated that they will continue the protest until their demands are met, and they will refrain from work. The protesters demand that the accused be arrested, subjected to a judicial investigation based on proper evidence, and given the death penalty.
Additionally, they insist that the evidence against the accused, including CCTV footage and findings from the post-mortem report, be shared in detail with representatives of the protesting doctors. They also demand that the hospital’s principal, superintendent, head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, and the on-duty police officer at the interim RG Kar Medical College police station issue a written apology and resign. Furthermore, they called for the immediate announcement of appropriate financial compensation for the deceased’s family and for regular written updates on the progress of the investigation.