RG Kar Audio Tapes Viral: Three weeks have passed since the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. So far, only one person has been arrested — civic volunteer Sanjay Roy. While protests around the crime rage on, an audio clip has come to light, purportedly featuring multiple conversations between the parents of the RG Kar victim and three different hospital officials. 


What is shocking is the fact that the tapes featured three separate claims by the purported hospital authorities. The veracity of the audio clips has not been verified by ABP Live.


On the morning of August 9, the victim's family received three calls. The family alleged that they received three calls with three different narratives. In the clip that has surfaced, it was first said that the victim was unwell. The second time, the parents were told to reach the hospital quickly. The third caller was a man, who asked the victim's parents to contact the chest department. In the fourth call, the parents were told that the woman had committed suicide.


The audio clips are viral on social media.


Here are the transcripts of the purported calls:


CALL 1


Woman Staffer: She's a little sick. Can you come immediately?


Victim's Father: What happened?


WS: She's sick. We are admitting her. Can you come?


VF: But tell us what has happened?


WS: The doctor will tell you that when you come. We collected your number to inform you.


VF: But you need to tell me what happened.


WS: The patient's body is bad, admitted to the hospital. The doctor will tell you the rest when you come.


Victim's Mother: Does she have a fever?


WS: You come, come quickly... as soon as you can.


VF: Why? Is her condition bad?


WS: Yes, her condition is very bad. Come quickly.


VF: We are coming.


CALL 2


VF: Hello, I am her father. What happened to her?


Assistant Superintendant: The doctor will tell you that. She is in a terrible condition. 


VF: But tell me what happened?


AS: I am only the Assistant Superintendant. I am not the doctor.


VF: Is there no doctor there?


AS: We have admitted her to the emergency ward. You need to come quickly and contact us.


VM: But what happened to her? She was on duty.


AS: You come, come quickly... as soon as you can.


CALL 3


Male Caller: I am calling from RG Kar. You are coming, aren't you?


VM: Yes, definitely. We are coming. How is she?


Male Caller: You come here and talk to the HOD of the chest department. 


CALL 4


Assistant Superintendent: Hello, I am the Assistant Superintendent. I had been trying to tell you for some time now. Your daughter might have committed suicide. She's dead. Police are there. We are at the hospital... calling you in front of everyone.


BJP Targets Bengal Government Over RG Kar Viral Tapes


The fresh 'revelations' have given the BJP fodder to attack the Mamata Banerjee government. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the audio recording of the RG Kar phone call proved what the parents were claiming.


"This was also indicated by the Supreme Court. The parents were being misled from the very first moment. Evidence was being destroyed. This shows an attempt at a systematic and institutional cover-up. Why were they so keen on this," Poonawalla asked.






Psychiatrist Sabyasachi Mitra said that informing such incidents is called "breaking bad news". "In this case, the caller was in a hurry. It is clear from the tone of the voice that she was worried. The caller rushed the conversation, trying to finish it quickly with very little information. It is a very sensitive matter. You have to speak with compassion. Bad news should not be given over the phone," Mitra was quoted as saying.


(With inputs from ABP Ananda.)