The family of the trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month, has accused the police of attempting to cover up the crime. On Wednesday, the victim’s father claimed that the Kolkata Police hurriedly cremated his daughter’s body and tried to offer the family a bribe to keep them quiet.
According to the father, the police restricted their access to the body after it was taken for post-mortem and later tried to suppress the case. “We weren’t allowed to see our daughter’s body, and while we waited at the police station, a senior officer offered us money, which we refused,” the father told news agency PTI.
The victim’s family, along with junior doctors, participated in a protest at the hospital on Wednesday night, demanding justice for the 31-year-old woman. The protests come amid increasing outrage over how the case has been handled by authorities.
The victim’s semi-naked body was found on August 9 in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College. The following day, Kolkata Police arrested the prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, after CCTV footage captured him near the crime scene. Roy’s Bluetooth headphones were also discovered at the location, further implicating him. Investigations revealed that the victim was sexually assaulted and then killed by being throttled and smothered.
In response to growing concerns about the police investigation, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a week after the incident.
The brutal crime has sparked massive protests across India, with people, including medical professionals, demanding swift justice. In Kolkata, junior doctors expressed their outrage by presenting a hand-made artificial spine to Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, calling for his resignation over alleged lapses in the investigation. The gesture symbolized their demand for the police to “grow a backbone.”
Junior doctors at state-run hospitals in West Bengal have continued their protests, leaving health services disrupted. Medical professionals are standing in solidarity with the victim, demanding accountability and proper investigation into the case.
On Wednesday night, thousands of women across West Bengal took part in the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, marching through the streets to demand justice for the victim and other women. In a powerful display of unity, Kolkata residents turned off their lights at 9 p.m. and walked the streets with candles, calling for justice in a crime that has shaken the city.
