Kolkata victim doctor’s family raises 5 key questions: 'My daughter’s soul must have suffered a lot'
Times of India | 6 September 2024
People during a candlelight march in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. (PTI Photo) KOLKATA: In the latest development in the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case, the family of the victim accused the Kolkata Police of trying to offering them money when they were crying and sitting with the mortal remains of their daughter inside the house.
The RG Kar victim’s father also accused Kolkata Police of deliberately delaying in registering their complaint as an FIR.
Here is a list of five key questions raised by doctor’s parents:
Point 1- Cop intimidation
Father - When my daughter’s body was lying at our home, DC North took me to a corner of a room and tried to offer us money. Now some people are showing an old video where I am seen stating that none had offered me money. I would like to say it was taken a few days after the incident when Kolkata Police was still probing the incident and they pressured me to say no money was offered, while stating it could hamper the investigation.
Counterpoint - We had only followed certain protocols. If they feel we made any mistake, they are free to communicate the same to the present investigating agency.
Point 2 - Hospital pressure
Father - We were told police came to know about the death at 10.10 am when my daughter was found dead much earlier. Why didn’t they do any physical test? We were told at 11 am that my daughter had died by suicide. When we reached the hospital, we were made to wait for three and a half hours before we were allowed to see the body. There was repeated pressure on us to go to the principal’s office, which we had denied. We were even asked to sign on a blank paper.
Counterpoint - None of the present administrators were part of the medical college during that period. Hence, we cannot comment on the same.
Point 3 - Rape-murder FIR and postmortem delay
Father - Why was there a delay in the post-mortem? It should have been completed by 5 pm. But it only started at 6 pm. I had submitted the complaint between 6.30 pm and 7 pm, but the FIR got registered at 11.45 pm. Why was there a delay? So many doctors were there but they still made an unnatural death case. Why didn’t the hospital lodge an FIR?
Counterpoint - The emergency medical officer officially declared the doctor dead at 12.44 pm and the death certificate was issued at 1.47 pm. To begin the process of inquest, we had started a suo motu ‘unnatural death’ (UD) case by 12.45 pm in the absence of an official complaint from the hospital or family. The family lodged the complaint in the evening but there was a delay in officially registering the FIR as our officers were occupied with lawand-order duties and more senior cops from the PS were accompanying the FSL team till 10.45 pm. When the officer in charge returned to the station, the FIR was filed in accordance with Section 111 of the Police Regulations, Calcutta, 1968.
Point 4 - Cremation hurry
Father - We wanted to keep the body for some more time, but cops put too much pressure on us. While we were at Talla PS, there were 300 cops surrounding us and when we reached our home, there were 300 to 400 cops putting more pressure on us. We had no option but to cremate the body.
Counterpoint - We are not challenging their allegation and we understand the mental state they are in. We are united in our quest for justice. We want to reiterate, we only followed protocols. If asked, we will submit our petition in court Bengal bill proposes death or life in jail till death for all rape cases.
Point 5 - Councillor Somnath Dey's role
Aunt - There were 15 of us from the family at the hospital waiting to take the body back home. We saw the parents leaving in a car and we thought we would leave behind them with the ambulance carrying our daughter. But cops didn’t allow us to go with them and left with the ambulance in a hurry. We were told the local councillor had presented himself as the local guardian before police while stressing that the family members were not in a position to take the body. Why did he do that?
Father - No money was charged for the cremation. My daughter’s soul must have suffered a lot thinking my father could not even bear the expenses. Who will give an answer to that?
Counterpoint - I live in the same neighbourhood as the girl’s. Her father had called me after the incident and that’s why I accompanied them to the hospital. I had only tried to help the family in the hour of crisis. I have nothing to add about the allegations levelled against me by the family.