Protests have intensified in Kolkata following the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital. Protesters have highlighted significant gaps in the investigation, particularly regarding how the seminar room, where the crime occurred, was accessed. This room, typically locked after classes, became the focus of intense scrutiny as details about the security of the keys emerged.
Dr Arunav Dutta Choudhury, the newly appointed head of the pulmonary medicine department, reported that the seminar room should have been locked after afternoon classes. According to Dr Dutta Choudhury, the key to this room was usually handed to the ward’s sister-in-charge once classes concluded. However, he admitted he could not account for who might have taken the key on the day of the incident.
Nursing Superintendent Krishna Saha provided additional details about the room’s key management. Saha stated that the key was generally kept in a secure box with the sister-in-charge. Doctors needing access would take the key with prior notice and return it promptly to prevent unauthorized access. Despite this, Saha confessed she did not know who had taken the key on August 8, the day of the attack.
Further complicating the matter, sources revealed that the seminar room contained a storeroom for nurses, which also had a key kept with the sister-in-charge. The absence of a clear record of who accessed these keys has left a crucial part of the investigation unresolved.
The State Human Rights Commission’s investigation into the case included a visit to the hospital. An officer from the commission questioned the hospital principal, Dr Dutta Choudhury, along with the doctor’s unit in-charge Sumit Ray Tapadar and Krishna Saha. The officer examined the duty register for the pulmonary medicine ward and sought details about the notification of the incident. According to Dr Dutta Choudhury, they were unaware of the crime until the morning of August 9. On that day, the shift in-charge was reportedly informed of the incident through a Class IV employee. However, there are still unresolved questions about the history of the key’s use and its return.
The autopsy of the victim revealed distressing findings, including a significant amount of fluid, likely semen, which suggested the possibility of multiple attackers. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has addressed speculations by emphasizing that no conclusions about the number of perpetrators have been made. Goyal stated that scientific evidence is crucial and cannot be hastily used to arrest individuals based on rumors alone.
In addition to the public outcry, media reports have highlighted the severity of the injuries sustained by the victim. The post-mortem examination detailed numerous injuries, including cut marks on the victim’s hands and face. There were indications of a brutal attack involving shards of broken glass from her spectacles penetrating her eyes, as well as injuries to her head and neck.
The intense public pressure and demands for justice have led to the Calcutta High Court intervening, directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the case. This step reflects the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The unresolved questions surrounding the seminar room’s key access and the brutal nature of the crime have added to the urgency of the investigation, as the search for justice continues.