Outrage grows over Kolkata doctor's rape-murder: Mamata Banerjee vows CBI probe if no headway by Sunday
Times of India | 12 August 2024
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited the home of the post-graduate trainee doctor who was found raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata.
The visit took place around 12.45pm, during which the chief minister spoke with the parents and relatives of the deceased.
After meeting the parents, the CM said that the Kolkata Police have been working to solve the case, but if they are unable to make significant progress and reach a conclusion by Sunday, the case will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"It is an extremely painful incident. Whoever is involved in the case should be punished immediately. We want this case to be fast-tracked because then the judicial process will be quick," the CM said.
"I am shocked that there were nurses in the hospital, there was security of the hospital and yet this incident took place...I have told the police... the victim's parents have also said that someone from inside is involved. We have removed the principal, MSVP, HOD, and the ASP from this hospital. We have deployed the dog squad, video department, forensic department to investigate in the matter. If Kolkata Police is unable to solve the case by Sunday... we will transfer it to CBI," the CM said.
The doctor's body was found inside a seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning. The following day, authorities arrested a civic volunteer in connection with crime.
The protesters are demanding a magisterial inquiry into matter and have ceased even emergency duties since morning.
In an effort to manage the situation, the state government has revoked the leave of all senior doctors, expecting them to handle the influx of patients until the circumstances improve.
The protesting doctors have received support from various regions across the country.
The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has endorsed the strike and called for a nationwide suspension of elective services on Monday, notifying the Union Health Ministry of their decision.