Kolkata rape-murder: Doctors' march today, assembly to debate death penalty
Amid ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, junior doctors plan to march from College Street to Lalbazar on Monday. The doctors are demanding the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. Separately, the West Bengal Assembly on Monday begins a special two-day session to pass a Bill proposing capital punishment for rape and murder convicts.
Why does this story matter?
On August 9, a 31-year-old trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College. A post-mortem examination revealed she had been raped and then murdered. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, leading the Calcutta High Court to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the matter. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party is protesting against the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of using the anti-rape law as a political tool.
Doctors' march to start at 2pm today
The doctors' march, organized by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF), is set to begin at 2:00 pm from College Square and will proceed through Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central Avenue, BB Ganguly Street, and Lalbazar Street. The protest march is likely to cause traffic diversions. The doctors have stated that they will not break any police cordon and will march until the point permitted by law enforcement.
What are the doctors' demands
The protesting doctors claim that the Kolkata Police, led by Commissioner Goyal, did not stop the mob attack on RG Kar Medical College on the eve of Independence Day, which followed the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. They are calling for Goyal's resignation, the suspension of former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, and the arrest of not only the main accused, Sanjay Roy, but also other individuals allegedly involved in the crime.
Special assembly session
Meanwhile, a two-day special session of the West Bengal Assembly starting Monday will focus on tabling and passing a Bill that proposes capital punishment for convicted rapists. The Bill will be discussed and voted on Tuesday. Additionally, the Supreme Court will hear the West Bengal government's appeal against the Calcutta High Court's decision to grant bail to Sayan Lahiri, leader of the Paschim Banga Chhtra Samaj, who was involved in the August 27 'Nabanna Abhijan' march.
NHRC notice to police commissioner
To recall, the BJP has been holding a sit-in at Dorina Crossing in Kolkata's Esplanade since August 29. Earlier, women from the TMC protested across various blocks, calling for legal amendments to mandate capital punishment for rapists. On Saturday, the National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the Kolkata Police Commissioner about alleged excessive and brutal force used against protesters on August 27, demanding justice for the doctor. The NHRC has requested an action taken report within two weeks.
Actors and activists stage sit-in
On Sunday, a major rally in Kolkata, featuring prominent film personalities and rights activists, culminated in a night-long sit-in until 4:00am on Monday, demanding justice for the doctor. Actor Swastika Mukherjee, a key figure in the protest, called for "azadi from abuse" and severe punishment for convicted rapists. On the same day, the CBI examined the crime scene at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, inspecting the emergency building, boys' hostel, and principal's office.
