'There were three bodies, but our daughter was cremated first': Kolkata victim's father hints at intent to destroy evidence
Times of India | 19 August 2024
Doctors with others take part in a protest march against the sexual assault and murder of a PGT doctor, in Kolkata. (PTI photo) KOLKATA : The father of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College on August 9 has spoken out against what he said was the Mamata Banerjee govt’s “attempt to silence” those demanding justice for his daughter.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the chief minister's actions and refused to accept the compensation offered by the state government.The father also questioned the “immediate cremation” of his daughter after the autopsy, raising doubts about the possibility of evidence destruction.
“CM is talking about providing justice and even took to the streets in solidarity. But why send common people demanding justice to jail? We are not satisfied with what CM is doing. We have refused to accept the compensation that was offered to us by the state govt,” he told reporters.
“There were three bodies awaiting final rites at the crematorium, but our daughter was cremated ahead of them. We were so upset and in a state of shock after losing our only child that we couldn’t think or act at the time,” he said.
The victim's father also raised concerns about the police inquiry before the CBI took over the investigation on the orders of the Calcutta high court. He stated, "Nothing came out of the inquiry...Nobody from the (chest medicine) department or the college cooperated with us. The entire department is responsible for my daughter's murder...we suspect some people in the department were involved in the crime."
The victim's mother expressed gratitude towards those standing by the family during these difficult times, considering them as “our sons and daughters”. She hopes that the CBI investigation will lead to a breakthrough in the case and that the accused will be arrested and given the strictest punishment. The police had arrested a civilian traffic police volunteer, Sanjay Roy, within 24 hours of the crime.
She was a fighter, dreamer, role model: Victim's mother
The 31-year-old PG trainee was aspired to become a gold medal-winning doctor, settle her family's debts, and improve the lives of her parents. Her mother and father, who worked long hours at a tailoring shop, supported her education and helped her journey from the bustling Kolkata suburb of Sodepur to RG Kar.
"We are a poor family and we raised her with a lot of hardship. She worked extremely hard to become a doctor. All our dreams have been shattered in one night," her 67-year-old father told TOI. The family was eagerly anticipating the Durga Puja celebrations in October, which held special significance as their daughter had been organizing a Puja at home since 2021. Her mother expressed, "This was to be the third year of our home Puja and she had plans to organise a bigger one this time. This was meant to be a special occasion as she would have completed her PG." The grieving parents now seek justice, stating, "Now, all we want are arrests and proper punishment for all the culprits involved. Only that can offer solace to her soul."
The young doctor was regarded as a role model within her family, not only for her exceptional academic achievements but also for her gentle demeanor. A relative mentioned, "She cracked both JEE and medical." She had the opportunity to attend two state-run medical colleges for her MBBS and ultimately chose JNM Medical College Hospital in Kalyani. When she decided to pursue her post-graduation, she qualified at two medical colleges and selected RG Kar, which was just an hour's bus ride from her home in Sodepur.
Throughout her academic journey, she consistently excelled, scoring 90% in Madhyamik and 89% in Higher Secondary. Her 62-year-old mother emphasized that their lives had revolved around their only child since her birth. "She meant everything to us," she said, highlighting the immense love and dedication they had for their daughter.
'Doubt if seminar hall was the crime scene'
The mother of the deceased doctor raised concerns about the location of the crime, questioning whether it had actually occurred in the seminar hall. She expressed her heightened suspicions, saying, "Our suspicions were heightened by the immediate renovation of the adjoining room, where our daughter might have been raped and murdered."
The father of the victim at R G Kar hospital expressed his anger and disappointment on Saturday, holding the entire department responsible for his daughter's death. He stated, "The entire department at the hospital is responsible for my daughter's murder. It has been eight days, yet no one from the department has reached out to us." The father also voiced his dissatisfaction with the Kolkata Police's handling of the case. “Initially, we had faith in police probe. But later, we noticed some negligence, which led us to approach the Calcutta HC for a CBI probe,” he said.
'Colleagues may be involved'
The victim's parents have named several interns and physicians from the hospital as suspects to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The parents believe multiple individuals were involved in the crime. They provided the CBI with names of the interns and doctors they think are connected. According to a CBI officer, "The parents told us that they suspect the involvement of multiple persons behind the sexual assault and murder of their daughter. They have given us names of a few interns and doctors working with their daughter at the RG Kar Hospital."