Police probing why family was told Kolkata doctor committed suicide
The father of the 31-year-old doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, received a phone call Friday morning informing him that his daughter had died by suicide. When he arrived at the hospital, he discovered her bruished and partially clothed body in the seminar hall. According to the father, the assistant superintendent of chest medicine department had made the call, however, he didn't identify himself during the call.
Allegations of cover-up
The father's remarks have sparked allegations of a possible cover-up by the college administration after the discovery of the woman doctor's body. The investigation revealed that she had dinner on Thursday night with four colleagues who were on night duty. Police are questioning them, among others, to uncover the truth. To recall, Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who regularly visited the hospital, has been arrested. Police has said that any additional culprits will be apprehended in next four-five days.
Assistant Superintendent summoned
The Assistant Superintendent and Head of the Chest Medicine Department at the state-run hospital have been summoned to explain why the woman's family was initially told she died by suicide. The woman's mother told the media that even after arriving at the hospital, they were not allowed to see the body. "I fell at their feet, begging them to let me see my daughter. But they did not...They let us see her at 2 pm," she said.
Principal resigns
Meanwhile, Principal Dr Sandip Ghosh resigned on Monday, stating he could no longer endure the humiliation and criticism on social media over comments he claimed were falsely attributed to him. However, in a controversial move, Dr Ghosh was appointed as the principal of another medical college in Kolkata, sparking strong criticism. Students at Calcutta National Medical College have protested this decision. They have also locked the doors of the Principal's office to not allow him to assume the new position.
Victim's family suspects 'insider' involvement
The woman's family has expressed suspicion that someone in the chest medicine department might be involved in the crime. "We want an investigation into the entire chest department...someone on the inside is involved," they told the media. They also shared their concerns with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal during their visit. The state government has given the city police until Sunday to complete the investigation, or it will recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.
