RG Kar Case: New Forensic Report Puts Up Major Roadblock In Reopening Of Operation Theatre
The plan to reopen an orthopaedic OT at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, has sparked protests from junior doctors in the wake of a new forensic report in the August 9 doctor's rape and murder case.
A fresh controversy has emerged over the reopening of the orthopaedic operation theatre (OT) on the eighth floor of the casualty block at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Bengal's Kolkata. The OT has been closed since October this year when a pair of "blood-stained" gloves was found there. . In August, the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the hospital sparked a nationwide outrage and the protests for "justice" are still going on in Kolkata.
Now, a fresh forensic report has prompted junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College to oppose the proposal to reopen the orthopaedic OT.
RG Kar Case: What The New Forensic Report Says
The new report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) has raised more questions in the doctor rape and murder case. While the body of the woman junior doctor was found in the fourth-floor seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital building, the fresh report suggests that the crime might have been committed somewhere else and the body brought to the spot later.
This revelation sparked objections from a section of junior doctors and medical staffers on Tuesday when attempts were made to reopen it. According to hospital authorities, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) granted verbal approval to reopen the OT. However, the hospital administration has written to the CBI, requesting formal written permission.
The controversy dates back to August when the OT was sealed following the discovery of bloodstained gloves and other medical equipment. The sealing was carried out in the presence of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) during a CBI investigation. Questions have since arisen regarding the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report.
However, Saptarshi Chattopadhyay, the vice-principal of RG Kar Medical College, had then said that lab tests showed the stains on the gloves were not blood, as initially suspected. The samples were sent to a forensic lab to determine the nature of the stains.
Junior doctors and medical staff are now questioning why the CBI did not inspect the orthopaedic OT as part of its investigation. They argue that the OT might hold crucial evidence.
Junior doctor Kinjan Nanda remarked, "The CFSL report states that the seminar room is not the place of occurrence. Then where is it? There are suspicious areas, and this orthopaedic OT has been shut for one-and-a-half to two months by the authorities due to such suspicions. The authorities repeatedly requested the CBI to investigate and send samples to the forensic lab, but the CBI has shown no interest. Why is the CBI silent? Why are there no answers from them?"
Meanwhile, the vice principal of RG Kar Medical College stated that although the CBI reportedly gave verbal consent to reopen the OT, it remains sealed. The vice principal added that the authorities were unaware that the CBI had revisited the site.
Following protests by junior doctors, the hospital administration did not reopen the OT on Tuesday.
(With inputs from ABP Ananda.)
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