'Will hand over doctor rape-murder case to CBI if...': Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she would transfer the investigation into the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the police fail to solve the case by Sunday. "If the police are unable to solve this by Sunday...we'll hand over the case to the CBI...However, the success rate of the central probe agency is very low," Banerjee told news agency PTI.
Why does this story matter?
The 32-year-old victim's semi-naked body was discovered in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital on Thursday night. The initial post-mortem report revealed she had been bleeding from her eyes, nose, and private parts, with injuries to other parts of her body including a broken neck. In response to the incident, Professor (Dr) Sandip Ghosh, principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, resigned from his post on Monday morning.
Accused arrested
The police have arrested Sanjay Roy in connection with the rape and murder. Although not officially linked to the hospital, Roy was known to be a frequent visitor. He was charged under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remanded to police custody till August 23 by Sealdah court.
Doctors launch indefinite strike
Meanwhile, doctors across India launched an indefinite strike in response to the rape and murder of the trainee doctor on Monday. The Federation of Resident Doctors's Association (FORDA) had called for the strike. Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and several other cities have halted all elective services until a thorough investigation into the case is completed.
Police Commissioner assures transparent investigation
Additionally, City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment twice in three days and held meetings with representatives of the protesting junior doctors. He claimed the probe is "transparent" and urged people not to spread rumours. Talking to PTI, Goyal said, "After committing the crime, the accused went back to...where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence."
