Kolkata:

Veteran Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, has now taken refuge in a cartoon by legendary Indian artist and humourist RK Laxman to express his anguish over the recent summons to him by Kolkata Police over his social media post on the rape and murder of a woman junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.

He has posted that cartoon on his official X handle, featuring a youth (arguably anyone raising their voice against any evil or injustice) being dragged by his shirt collar by a policeman through the street, with passersby watching the scene.

“Of course, you weren’t spreading rumours – the charge is you were spreading facts!” read the lines written on the cartoon created on December 26, 1962.

Mr Roy expressed his amusement by posting a “grinning” emoji along with the post.

pic.twitter.com/hC2g9ZLwVh

— Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (@Sukhendusekhar) August 23, 2024

Although Mr Roy did not make any explanatory statement on his social media wall, it is easily understood that his post was in relation to the recent summons issued to him by Kolkata Police over one of the posts on his social media wall, which he had to ultimately delete.

Earlier this month, Mr Roy had posted on his social media handle a demand for the custodial interrogation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal, in connection with the probe in the rape and murder case.

After the Kolkata Police issued two notices to question Roy for allegedly spreading misinformation through a particular social media post, the veteran politician approached the Calcutta High Court seeking protection against coercive police action, including arrest.

Later on August 20, during the hearing in the matter at Calcutta High Court, Roy’s counsel informed the court that his client had agreed to take down the content that he posted on his X handle.

The West Bengal government counsel, thereafter, informed the court that since Roy had agreed to delete the post, the police would not take any action against him and would close the matter. On the same evening the post was deleted from his X wall.

It remains to be see what the police’s reaction to the latest post by the rebel MP will be.
 

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

Calling reports about his disappearance “fake”, the medical intern, allegedly missing since the day of the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder, today said that he is at the college hostel and cooperating with agencies.

The student, who NDTV has chosen not to name in view of the sensitivity of the case, said he is “under severe mental distress” and urged everyone to not spread “fake news” against him.  

The body of the woman post-graduate trainee, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital, was found on Friday morning. Doctors from hospitals across India have announced an indefinite strike.

“I want to clarify that I have been staying in hostel since the day of the incident and been co-operating in the investigation with the police. I am already under severe mental distress, and I request you to stop circulating this fake news,” the intern posted on Facebook. 

A civic volunteer, who posed as cop, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the case and has been sent to 14-day police custody.

At least three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were also filed before the Calcutta High Court, demanding that the investigation be transferred to the CBI.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said police will have time till Sunday to solve the rape-murder case, failing which the CBI will take over the investigation.

Earlier today, 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.

“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 reporters.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has 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.”

Doctors and nursing staff protest against the recent rape and murder of a woman doctor inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata on August 11, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The man who was arrested on the charge of raping and murdering a doctor inside a Kolkata hospital 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.

The police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused, a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to frequent the place.

The body of a woman post-graduate trainee who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital was found on Friday morning. The civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday.

Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible for the crime continued for the third day on Sunday, affecting services in government hospitals across West Bengal.

City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.

He claimed that the probe is “transparent” and urged people not to spread rumours.

“After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place 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. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search,” the officer said.

Asked if anyone else was involved in the crime as alleged by some quarters, he said, “As of now there is no evidence of that.”

Also Read | Murder of young doctor in hospital triggers shock and horror in Kolkata

The police were waiting for the final post-mortem examination report as they wanted to match it with their probe findings, the officer said.

The initial autopsy report stated that the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. There were also injuries on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

Another police officer said that circumstantial evidence also indicated a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

“We are also talking to persons who were on duty on Thursday night till the next morning. CCTV footage is also being checked,” the police officer said.

A team of police officers of the SIT, along with the forensic unit on Sunday, collected samples from the seminar hall of the hospital, a police source said.

The police also reconstructed the crime scene though the arrested accused was not present, the officer said.

“The autopsy report has been handed over to the parents of the deceased doctor today by one of our senior officers. We had a fruitful meeting with the students and we think they are satisfied. As per their demand, we have removed one assistant police officer who was posted here,” the police commissioner said.

Mr. Goyal said the police are not trying to hide anyone, and the investigation is transparent.

The IPS officer said that they would soon start a toll-free number for the poeple to come up with suggestions or complaints.

The agitating junior doctors, however, said that they would continue their demonstration till they are totally “satisfied” and their demands regarding their safety and security were addressed.

The cease work in all emergency and non-emergency services will continue but there, one junior doctor said after the meeting with Mr. Goyal.

Junior doctors, house staff and post-graduate trainees (PGT) at various State-run hospitals, who are also demanding security for them in medical establishments, began a cease work since Friday evening.

“The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention,” he said.

In the wake of the agitation, the State health department on Sunday cancelled offs and holidays of all senior doctors to tackle the stalemate.

Support for the agitating doctors came from different corners of the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association of India (FORDA) has supported the ongoing strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals on Monday.

The FORDA has informed the Union Health Ministry about their decision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to seek death penalty for the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police deployed a huge contingent at the hospital on Sunday.

“No one will be allowed inside the hospital premises without proper identification. We will ensure total safety of the health workers in the medical establishment,” the officer said.

The hospital authorities expelled the two security persons contractually employed at the emergency ward for not discharging their duties properly which, in a way, led to the crime against the doctor, another official said.