RG Kar Doctor Murder: As the heat on the Bengal government rose over the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that she has no objection to a central agency probe in the case. She said the case should be heard in a fast-track court and the guilty should be hanged.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ABP Ananda, Mamata Banerjee said: "This was an inhuman and deplorable crime. I feel as if I have lost a family member. We can never defend such a crime. There can be no leniency for this kind of crime."
The junior doctor's body was found on Friday morning in a seminar hall with bruises all over her body. She was bleeding from her eyes and mouth. The initial autopsy indicated that she was subjected to sexual assault.
Following the murder, doctors at the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital staged a massive protest and called for a 'cease-work'. They demanded better security for medical personnel and the strictest of actions against the murderer of the trainee doctor. Responding to this, Mamata Banerjee said: "I stand by the doctors. Their demands are completely justified... The role of the hospital authorities will also be probed and if negligence is proved, action will be taken."
She said that she spoke to the parents of the victim. "The police have got a breakthrough in the case and arrested a suspect. The culprit will not be spared," she said.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation by the Opposition in Bengal. The BJP alleged that the TMC government was trying to shield the culprits. Taking to X, Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said: "The state government has formed an 11-member inquiry committee. Some of the committee members are interns. In my opinion, the state government is either trying to sweep the matter under the mat so that the negligence on their part doesn't get exposed or they are not at all serious about this matter."
Demanding a central agency probe into the case, Suvendu Adhikari said: "This is a clear case of murder [with the probability of rape]. The case should be immediately transferred to the CBI." Mamata Banerjee on Saturday told ABP Ananda that she had no objection to a CBI probe. "If the students [protesting trainee doctors] do not have faith in the Bengal government, they can seek a probe by any agency of their choice... This case should be dealt with by a fast-track court and justice should be delivered within three to four days," she said.
When asked if her government would accept a CBI probe, CM Mamata said: "Our government has nothing to hide. So, we have no objection to such demands. We want it to be solved as soon as possible. The Commissioner of Police was at the hospital the entire night. He spoke to me over the phone till 2 AM. He updated me in the morning as well."