This article has been written by Sourav Shekhar, a final-year BA LLB student at RNB Global University.
Introduction
Kolkata, August 12, 2024: It has created shock waves across the country, as people hit the streets demanding justice without delay after a trainee doctor, 31 years old in age, was gruesomely killed and raped on the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. According to the police, she was a second-year postgraduate student of the Chest Medicine Department. Her body was found in the seminar hall within the hospital premises on the morning of August 9, 2024.
Scene of Crime
She had been watching the Olympic javelin throw event on August 8, 2024, with four junior doctors. Everybody wanted to see everyone’s javelin throw to Neeraj Chopra. The foursome ordered online food, and after he won, they all sat down to dinner together in the seminar hall of the hospital. She had chosen to remain behind to study, which was corroborated by a call she made to her mother at about 11 PM. Her colleagues last saw her asleep in the seminar hall at about 3 AM.
The next morning, at around 9 am, the lifeless body of the victim was found. The post-mortem report revealed horrendous details: signs of sexual assault, multiple injuries, scratches, bloodstains on her face and eyes, bleeding from the private parts, and a fractured neck bone.
Suspect and Evidence
Kolkata Police later identified Sanjay Roy, a 33-year-old former civil volunteer with Kolkata Police, as the main suspect. Known for having access to the hospital with a police officer’s identity, he was seen on security camera footage entering the hospital about 11 PM on August 8 and leaving the hospital at 1 AM. He returned at 4 AM on August 9, went inside the building of Emergency and left after 40 minutes.
Important evidence had been a Bluetooth earphone found on the scene of the crime. The police matched the device with Sanjay’s phone, thus, proving his presence at the scene of the crime. The blood and skin samples present under the nails of the victim matched with Sanjay’s DNA. His shoes, found by the police, had bloodstains. Though Sanjay had washed all his clothes to rid them of any evidence, he was betrayed by his shoes.
Arrest and Admission
Sanjay Roy was arrested within six hours of the discovery of the body. He confessed to his crime following an interrogation and even offered to be awarded the death penalty for his actions. According to sources in the police, he said, “I have committed a crime; I deserve to be hanged.”
Trial
On August 10, 2024, Sanjay Roy was presented in the Sealdah Court. Considering the brutal nature of the crime, no lawyer stood up to defend him. Turning the matter into one related to the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, also known as the Nirbhaya case, the court remanded Sanjay to 14 days of police custody.
Background of the Accused
Mr. Sanjay Roy had been inducted in the Kolkata Police on civil voluntary grounds in the year 2019, primarily in the Disaster Management Group, before being transferred to Welfare Cell there. He had stayed at the residential camp of the Police battalion and had been posted at RG Kar Hospital because of his close connection with some police officials.
Locally, Sanjay was known for making false promises of marriage to various women, being physically involved with them, and avoiding those who loaned him money with the promise of providing him a job in the process. On the domestic front, he was an abusive spouse who had been married four times; he had thrice lost his wives because of his physical abuse, and his fourth wife had died of cancer.
Reactions/Developments
Government and Political Response
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the family of the victim and assured them of fully supporting the state government and the commitment to justice, saying, “We want the police to complete the investigation by August 18. If not, we will hand the case over to the CBI,” highlighting the seriousness of government commitment towards ensuring justice.
The BJP and all other political parties have criticized the state government and argued that the government was virtually denying it is not under their government that women are safe in Bengal. State president of BJP Sukanta Majumdar said, “TMC can hide the data on such incidents, but it reflects women are not safe in Bengal.” The CPM has also criticized the state government on the grounds of deception. The state secretary said, “The City of Joy has turned into a City of Fear under the TMC government.”
Medical Community and General Public Reaction
The attack triggered large-scale protests across the state by doctors and medical students, who not only sought justice for the victim but also sought an immediate resignation from Dr. Sandeep Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College. Under pressure, Dr. Ghosh gave his resignation shortly after and was quoted saying, “The trainee doctor was like a daughter to me. I do not want to see such a tragedy befall anyone else.”
Impact on society
The gruesome murder of the trainee doctor has reignited discussions on the safety of women in public spaces, particularly in educational and healthcare institutions. The swift action by the police and the government’s support underscore the urgency of addressing violence against women and the need for comprehensive reforms.
Current Status and Future Steps
Currently, Sanjay Roy is in police remand. The investigation is on. There is immense public pressure to finish the investigation fast and award stringent punishment. The general public is also demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrator.
Conclusion
This specific case exemplifies two things: the widespread violence against women that occurs, and the urgent need for greater security measures within institutions. The case reemphasizes the hardships that women face in India and identifies it as a responsibility also for the whole of Indian society and the government.
