Kolkata:

The parents of the Kolkata doctor who was brutally raped and murdered last month have alleged that the police tried to bribe them initially to suppress the case. The incident took place while the doctor was on night shift and has led to massive protests across the state, demanding swift action.

The parents of the 31-year-old joined the protest at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where their daughter’s body was found on August 9, and accused the police of allegedly trying to close the case without a thorough investigation.

“The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations,” the father said while addressing the protesters.

“Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined,” he added.

The parents said that are joining the protest to support the junior doctors fighting for justice for their daughter.

Kolkata Police has come under strong criticism from the Opposition as well as citizens for its handling of the sensitive case. Questions have been raised on how the accused Sanjoy Roy had unfettered access to every corner of the state-run hospital at all times of the day. Some reports have also said he would illegally arrange hospital beds and other facilities for patients in exchange for money.

Slogans targeting cops and reminding them that they have daughters at home too have been doing the rounds on social media and finding a place on placards carried by protesters during street marches.

Amid outrage, the Calcutta High Court ordered that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On Monday, the CBI arrested the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, in connection with alleged financial misconduct at the establishment.

The West Bengal Assembly this week also passed an anti-rape bill seeking capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.

Kolkata:

The police will have time till Sunday to solve the rape-murder last week of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, failing which the CBI will take over the case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday afternoon. The deadline for the state cops – whom Ms Banerjee backed and praised as “the best in the world” – comes amid intense political pressure by the BJP.

“If there are more accused… and all are not arrested by Sunday… we will hand over the case to the CBI,” the Chief Minister said after meeting the family of the victim, and threw in a swipe at the federal agency, which reports to the BJP.

“… we will hand over even though their success rate is low,” she said, referring to cases taken by the CBI, like the theft of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize, but which had seen “no justice till date..”

Last week too, the Chief Minister said she has no objection to the CBI – which reports to the BJP-led union government – taking charge of this case, particularly if that was the demand of protesting medical professionals. “… if agitating students want probe by another agency, we are not against it.”

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, speaking after Ms Banerjee’s deadline, outlined steps being taken by the cops to solve this crime. “We are certain… in the next four or five days, if there are more culprits, we will be able to arrest them,” he said, “We have started a helpline… doctors can give information by calling (and) can communicate anonymously… if they have suspicions.”

“We are in touch with family members. We will stay in touch and share progress with them… If, even after that, family is not satisfied then whatever madam (Ms Banerjee) has said will happen,” he said.

The doctor was found on Friday morning in the seminar hall of the state-run hospital.

The initial autopsy report said the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts, as also on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

READ | ‘Eye Injuries, Neck Bone Broken’: Details In Kolkata Rape-Murder

Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the crime. The incident has sparked nationwide protests by doctors and the political opposition.

READ | Doctor’s Rape-Murder Accused Posed As Cop, Said “Hang Me”

The man, Sanjoy Roy, had returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.

This morning the Principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh, who has been accused of victim-blaming, resigned, declaring that he “cannot take the humiliation” and alleged “political statements” against him.

READ | Principal Quits After Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder, Protests Across India

“Students are being provoked to ensure my removal. I want the accused to be punished. I am being defamed. I have not made such remarks,” he told the media this morning. “The girl who died was like my daughter. I am also a parent. As a parent, I am resigning,” he said.

Earlier, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had targeted Dr Ghosh and demanded his suspension.

“His misleading statements and carefree attitude in the aftermath of this tragic incident expose his indifference towards the victim,” Mr Adhikari said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, doctors from hospitals across India have announced an indefinite strike.

READ | Doctors Across India To Go On Indefinite Strike Over Kolkata Murder

Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities have said all elective services will be halted till a probe is completed. The protesters are also demanding adequate security for all medical staff.

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Kolkata:

A man was allegedly beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of theft, police said on Sunday. The victim, identified as Azgar Mollah, was a resident of Phulbari in Bhangar police station area in South 24 Parganas district, around 30km from here.

“Local residents found the accused unconscious and alerted police, who rushed him to a nearby hospital. Doctors declared him brought dead,” a police officer said.

The family of the deceased did not file a police complaint, declined to allow a post-mortem, and took the body away, the officer added.

“We have initiated a suo motu case and detained two persons after reviewing CCTV footage in the area. It showed that the deceased was badly beaten up by a mob,” the officer said.

This incident follows a series of similar incidents across the state over the past few days.

On June 28, a man was beaten to death at a state-run hostel for students in central Kolkata’s Bowbazar area over suspicion of mobile phone theft.

A day later, another person was thrashed to death by a group in the Salt Lake area on the same suspicion. Two others also died in other districts after being assaulted by mobs. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)