Kolkata Doctor Rape Case: Ex-RG Kar Hospital Principal Grilled By CBI For 4th Consecutive Day
Kolkata Doctor Rape Case: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Background
Kolkata Doctor Rape Case: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar medical college...More
CBI officers questioned the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, for about 13 hours on Monday in connection with its probe into the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the health facility.
Overall, he has been grilled by the sleuths for 45 hours in the past four days.
CBI officers questioned the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, for the fourth consecutive day on Monday in connection with its probe into the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the health facility.
Ghosh, who reached the CBI’s city office at CGO Complex in the morning, was grilled till late in the evening, an official said.
Among other queries, he was asked to specify his role after getting the news of the death of the doctor, who he had contacted thereafter and why he made the parents wait for nearly three hours before getting to see her body, the official said.
The former principal was also questioned on who had ordered renovation of rooms adjacent to the seminar hall, after the postgraduate trainee’s body was found there on August 9, he said.
Ghosh, who had resigned from the post on August 11, has been grilled for several hours in the last three days by officers of the central probe agency.
Some of his version does not match with that of the others who are being interrogated in the case, the official said.
The call records and his chat details are also being investigated.
Later in the evening, a team of CBI officers visited the RG Kar hospital to take a closer look at its Trauma Care Unit, and also collected samples.
CBI sleuths also grilled arrested accused Sanjay Roy on Monday, as the probe agency tries to ascertain whether he was alone while allegedly committing the crime.
The investigators also went to the Kolkata Police's headquarters at Lalbazar and spoke to officers who were part of the investigation when they were probing the matter, the official said. (PTI)
Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi on Monday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. West Bengal is witnessing a wave of anger following the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi took to X to criticise the Mamata Banerjee-led government for its failure to address the issue and the subsequent violence at the facility.
The failure and insensitivity of the Mamata Banerjee government in the case of the doctor's rape and murder have pushed public outrage to its peak across Bengal. But instead of providing answers, the government is shamelessly suppressing dissent and threatening those who raise their voices, Devi wrote in her post.
She further questioned Banerjee's moral standing and called for her resignation. The chief minister also holds home and health portfolios.
Even leaders and MPs from Trinamool are now pointing fingers at their own government. If there is any shred of morality left in Mamata Banerjee, she should immediately step down, Devi added, using the hashtag #ResignMamata.The comments come as the case has sparked widespread protests both in the state and across the country.
The Kolkata police has arrested a civic volunteer in connection with the crime.
Union Minister L Murugan tells ANI, "...It's a strongly condemnable incident. The West Bengal chief minister should have taken severe action against the accused, but they failed. That's where the CBI entered and CBI filed the case and CBI started the inquiry...."
“I am becoming a part of the protest as a citizen. Everyone is seeking justice. I am with them,” says Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as he participates in the protest in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Mother-in-law of accused Sanjoy Roy tells ANI, "My relations with him were very tense...They were married for 2 years...His marriage to my daughter was his second marriage...Initially, everything was good for 6 months. When she was 3-month pregnant, he caused a miscarriage. He thrashed her, a Police complaint was registered for the same. Following this, my daughter continued being ill, I bore all her expenses for medicines...Sanjoy was not good. Hang him or do whatever you want with him. I won't speak about the crime. He could not have done it alone. He doesn't have the capacity to do it alone..."
West Bengal governor CV Anand Bose will meet President Droupadi Murmu tomorrow. (Input: Manogya Loiwal)
CBI team visits different areas of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as they carry out their investigation into the case, ANI reported
Earlier today, the CBI team left the victim’s residence in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal after interviewing the family members, PTI reported.
On TMC leader Udayan Guha's statement, Union Minister and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar tells ANI, "Kitne logon ka hath aap todenge, ungli katenge"...Crores of fingers are being pointed at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to resign. To ensure the safety of women in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee must resign...I assure everyone who is protesting against the incident that the BJP is ready to give legal help. They should not be afraid..."
TMC slams Opposition 'drama', fake news, and 'politicisation' of the RG Kar doctor rape case.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "...The pain is not political but the pain of the people on social media is being converted into a political slogan and this will not be tolerated. There is no objection to the pain you are expressing on social media and the protest you are doing. You can say anything but the language should be appropriate. It is wrong to spread fake reports, fake audio, fake news about the picture and postmortem report. Do not do this, this is objectionable. An unfortunate incident has happened, the culprit must be hanged but this does not mean that Ram, the Left and some evil forces together turn it in another direction. They could not win through votes but we are protesting against the drama they are doing. We are clearly saying that there should be a death penalty. We want a solution, there must be punishment in the case." (ANI)
Medical staff and students tied 'Rakhi' demanding justice in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case, ANI reported.
Today's meeting between Doctors and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare concluded without reaching an agreement. As a result, FAIMA will continue their strike: FAIMA (Federation of All India Medical Association) Doctors Association
“I want to give the message of peace and love, especially today as it is Raksha Bandhan. I pray for the safety of all women and appeal to all brothers and doctors to think about patients. I support them and doctors’ demands are justified. Centre should bring in the Central Protection Act and our Prime Minister should think about it as it is a central subject,” TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha tells PTI.
CBI filed a petition before the magistrate in court to conduct a polygraph test of accused Sanjay Roy. Sanjay Roy is accused in the rape-murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
RDA doctors are demanding an ordinance for healthcare personnel's safety. According to sources, the government said that an ordinance cannot be brought in a hurry. The government is ready to make a law, but hasty steps cannot be taken, sources said.
West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose is leaving for Delhi today. He will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda in Delhi and discuss the RG Kar Hospital doctor rape and murder case: Raj Bhavan, Kolkata (ANI)
"It is painful to say that Mamata Banerjee has become 'Mamata the Destroyer'. What is she destroying? It's important to know. Through her misdeeds, she has destroyed the dignity of a woman—a doctor who was serving society. She is a destroyer of the rule of law and a destroyer of evidence in this heinous crime," says BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia at a press conference in Delhi.
BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia in a presser demands Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's resignation. He says, "...We want justice and the Chief Minister of West Bengal should resign...By her misdeeds, West Bengal CM has destroyed the dignity of a woman, a doctor who was serving society. She is the destroyer of the rule of law and evidence in this heinous crime which is vital to ensure that the accused get the punishment that they deserve..."
"The Supreme Court has said that it is taking suo-moto cognisance of this case. There is one important issue and that is the role of the Bengal Police and the Police Commissioner himself. I hope the Supreme Court will take note of that because it affects the credibility of the probe, even though it has been handed over to the CBI,” CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat tells PTI.
A delegation of doctors has reached the Health Ministry for another round of talks between doctors and the ministry today. The delegation includes doctors of FAIMA (Punjab), AIIMS (Delhi), PGI (Chandigarh), MARD (Maharashtra), Safdarjung, and RML..
However, the delegation has not yet entered inside the ministry, and it will be informed after 2 PM whether a meeting will be possible or not.
(Inputs By: Madiha Khan)
West Bengal | CBI team arrives at the residence of the Kolkata woman doctor who was raped and murdered, in Sodepur of North 24 Paraganas.
Kolkata, West Bengal: TMC leader Kunal Ghosh reaches CBI office. He said, "I have come here for my personal work. I have to give information under a notification before going out of Kolkata, I have come here with the list of that information. Along with this, some junior doctors want to give some information to the CBI, but they do not have any access to give it, so they contacted me. If this information will be useful to them (CBI), then they (junior doctors) are ready to cooperate..."
The CBI is not satisfied with the answers of RG Kar College and Hospital's Ex-Principal Sandip Ghosh on questions related to the renovation of the seminar hall after the rape and murder incident involving a trainee doctor.
As the CBI investigation in the Kolkata RG Kar college rape and murder case entered day 6 on Monday, the probe agency has suspicions over the statements of accused Sanjay Roy.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, for 14 hours. During questioning, the central probe agency asked questions pertaining to call details and renovation of the room without permission. According to sources, Ghosh is not cooperating during the interrogation and not responding to the questions. Meanwhile, the strike of doctors continues, leaving patients with problems.
The resident doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for enactment of a central law via an ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions across the nation.
The body has also urged for the restoration of law and order at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and killed.
The AIIMS RDA also drew the prime minister's attention to the subsequent vandalism at the hospital and the "worrying rise in violence against doctors, healthcare workers, and medical institutions" across the country.
Hospitals, like temples, are sanctuaries where healing and hope are nurtured, doctors of the Centre-run medical institution said in their letter. "It is with a sincere and earnest plea that we request your support in ensuring the protection of these sacred spaces," the letter said.
Resident doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi announced to continue their strike against the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee medical student at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The move was announced after the government's assurance on Saturday to form legislation to boost the safety of healthcare professionals failed to quell protests.
As part of the protest, the AIIMS RDA announced to continue halting academic activities, elective OPDs, ward and OT services while maintaining emergency services, ICUs, emergency procedures, and emergency OT.
In a rerun of the 'Reclaim the Night' campaign, hundreds of women took to the streets in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal on Sunday night, demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Braving intermittent rains, women of all ages and backgrounds assembled in several areas such as Jadavpur, Garia, Behala Parnashree, Khanna, Lake Town, and other city locations, and raised slogans - "We want justice".
Protests, similar to the August 14 'Reclaim the Night' gatherings across West Bengal, were also held in Madhyamgram Chowmatha in North 24 Parganas, Siliguri, Durgapur, and other locations.
According to news agency PTI, some protesters carried flaming torches, while others displayed placards, demanding exemplary punishment for those involved in the horrific crime and condemning alleged efforts by parts of the administration to shield the culprits.
The doctors' strike in the national capital over the rape and murder of a medic at a state-run hospital in Kolkata entered its seventh day on Sunday, as non-emergency services, including OPD, remained paralysed. Protests began here on Monday evening. Initially restricted to medical college campuses, doctors started taking to the streets from Friday over the incident at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata earlier this month.
According to an action plan, members of resident doctors' associations (RDA) in Delhi took out a candlelight march from outside Gate 1 of the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station at Connaught Place. Dr Parth Mishra, vice president of UCMS and GTB Hospital RDA told PTI that as discussed, resident doctors from medical institutions participated in the march.
Patna, Bihar: On the rape and murder of woman resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, BJP MP Arun Govil says, " So many things are happening in Kolkata right now. Whatever is happening there right now shouldn't happen...it has become a very weird atmosphere..."
Delhi: On rape and murder of woman resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla says, "After the statement of the parents of the deceased doctor in the Kolkata case, if Mamata Banerjee has any morality left, then she should resign because one thing is clear from the statement of the parents that Mamata Banerjee's government is not interested in saving daughters, getting justice for daughters, their entire priority is to save the rapists, destroy evidence, suppress those who speak the truth and hide the truth. What secret does Mamata Banerjee's government want to hide that the parents were misled from the very first day... After the things told by the parents today, shouldn't Mamata Banerjee resign? ..."
The resident doctors' association (RDA) of AIIMS on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for enactment of a central law via an ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions across the nation. The body has also urged for restoration of law and order at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and killed.
The AIIMS RDA also drew the prime minister's attention to the subsequent vandalism at the hospital and the "worrying rise in violence against doctors, healthcare workers, and medical institutions" across the country.
Hospitals, like temples, are sanctuaries where healing and hope are nurtured, doctors of the Centre-run medical institution said in their letter.
"It is with a sincere and earnest plea that we request your support in ensuring the protection of these sacred spaces," the letter said.
The RDA said doctors work in environments filled with life-and-death challenges, which leaves them especially vulnerable.
Stating that escalating violence against doctors is "profoundly troubling", the association called for strong and uniform laws to safeguard those who have devoted their lives to the noble service of others.
Seeking the introduction of a central ordinance, the RDA said, "We humbly beseech the Government of India, through your gracious intervention, to consider enacting a central law via ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions across the nation." "We sincerely believe that such a law, with stringent penalties, would act as a strong deterrent against violence and provide uniform protection for healthcare professionals throughout the country," the letter added.
The AIIMS RDA also implored immediate action to restore law and order at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital besides ensuring swift justice for the victim female doctor, saying it would not only offer solace but also set a strong precedent to deter such incidents in the future.
"We firmly believe that these measures will go a long way in ensuring the safety and security of healthcare professionals, thereby allowing us to continue our service to the nation with renewed confidence and peace of mind," the letter said. (PTI)
The resident doctors' association (RDA) of AIIMS on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for enactment of a central law via an ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions across the nation. The body has also urged for restoration of law and order at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and killed.
The AIIMS RDA also drew the prime minister's attention to the subsequent vandalism at the hospital and the "worrying rise in violence against doctors, healthcare workers, and medical institutions" across the country.
Hospitals, like temples, are sanctuaries where healing and hope are nurtured, doctors of the Centre-run medical institution said in their letter.
"It is with a sincere and earnest plea that we request your support in ensuring the protection of these sacred spaces," the letter said.
The RDA said doctors work in environments filled with life-and-death challenges, which leaves them especially vulnerable.
Stating that escalating violence against doctors is "profoundly troubling", the association called for strong and uniform laws to safeguard those who have devoted their lives to the noble service of others.
Seeking the introduction of a central ordinance, the RDA said, "We humbly beseech the Government of India, through your gracious intervention, to consider enacting a central law via ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions across the nation." "We sincerely believe that such a law, with stringent penalties, would act as a strong deterrent against violence and provide uniform protection for healthcare professionals throughout the country," the letter added.
The AIIMS RDA also implored immediate action to restore law and order at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital besides ensuring swift justice for the victim female doctor, saying it would not only offer solace but also set a strong precedent to deter such incidents in the future.
"We firmly believe that these measures will go a long way in ensuring the safety and security of healthcare professionals, thereby allowing us to continue our service to the nation with renewed confidence and peace of mind," the letter said. (PTI)
West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose has requested a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, news agency ANI reported citing Rajbhawan sources.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run Kolkata hospital, saying the people's voice for justice would intensify the more she intimidated them.
Dharmendra Pradhan said in a post on X, "The more Mamata Didi and her police intimidates people, the more intense will be people's voices for justice. What Didi's police is doing in Bengal is real dictatorship. First they tried to erase evidence and now they are stopping people to stand in solidarity with the victim’s family. Obstructing people's right to protest for justice lays bare the double standards and hypocrisy of @MamataOfficial Didi. She may use all her might, neither will she able to suppress people's anger nor the truth."
In an emotional letter titled "SHE: We Failed Her in Life", Indian Medical Association (IMA) chief Dr R V Asokan expressed the anguish and revulsion being felt by the nation over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata.
The letter, penned by Asokan, was shared on X by the apex doctors' body on Sunday.
"We as a nation did not let her down in death. It is difficult to capture the mood of the nation. Anger, Revulsion, Frustration, Helplessness," the letter read.
The letter comes amid protests across the country by medics, from both public and private health facilities, triggered by the incident at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month.
"For once India understood her doctors correctly," Asokan said.
"SHE was on 36 hours duty. Had dinner at 2 am before retiring to the makeshift beds in the seminar room adjacent to the ward. Only daughter of a lower middle-class parents. The orphaned doctor nameplate at the entry remaining the vestige of the family pride... Inconsolable. Lost the meaning and purpose of life. Innocent and naive with the trust like children," he said.
Asokan said, "Doctors are not orphans. Not yet. For once everyone adopted the doctors".
He urged for amendments in laws that fail to protect doctors adequately. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is "undersize" but the "deep state wouldn't agree", Asokan said.
"We invoke the right to life. Let doctors live. Tryst with destiny had not been redeemed in full measure. It left out the doctors. We live to fight back," Asokan said in his letter. (PTI)
Indian Medical Association, in Amritsar, held a candle march to show solidarity with the victim
CBI team investigating rape & murder case of the woman doctor leaves from the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, ANI reported.
The mother of the deceased doctor expresses gratitude for nationwide support. She told ANI, "Through you, we want to give a message to the people of the whole country. We are grateful to all the countrymen, people of the world and the state, we request that you stand with us until the accused is caught. We only wish that this should not happen to any mother, no one should lose their child like us...
The father added, "This should never happen to any other human being..."
“BJP will continuously hold demonstrations. We wanted to sit on protest from August 16 but police did not allow it and arrested us. Tomorrow on August 19, under the leadership of BJP Mahila Morcha, women workers will hold ‘Rakhi Bandhan’ programme at 15 prominent places in Kolkata for the safety of Bengal’s women. Tomorrow we will also approach the court to allow us to sit on protest from August 20-23,” Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar tells PTI.
BJP national president & Union Minister JP Nadda posts on X, "West Bengal under TMC is ANTI-WOMEN, ANTI-YOUTH and ANTI-DEMOCRACY. The Chief Minister has failed the people of the state, presiding over an administration which has looted with impunity. The iron grip has clearly rusted and rusted terribly."
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tells ANI, "I have sympathy and solidarity with the doctors. For a couple of years at least, I have been speaking in parliament about the issue of violence against doctors. I got into a bit of a debate with the then Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. I had argued that the government should bring in a bill to specifically protect medical professionals in the course of their duties. The government gave me a very odd reply that if they start doing it for one profession, they'd have to do it for others. It is a ridiculous argument...I am shocked and saddened that despite all these efforts to raise public consciousness and the government's consciousness about this, one more doctor has had to lose her life..."
Kolkata Police detain football fans protesting against the rape and murder of a woman resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Football fans were staging a protest near Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata.
West Bengal: Protest held near Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata against the rape and murder of a woman resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the rape and murder of a doctor in RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will hear the case on August 20.
TMC workers stage a sit-in protest in Darjeeling against the rape and murder of a woman resident doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
CBI team investigating the rape & murder case of the woman doctor is examining and conducting 3D laser mapping in the Emergency ward of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata
Father of deceased doctor in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-death case tells ANI, "No results have come out of the inquiry that is being done. We hope we will get results... No one from the department or the college cooperated with us. The entire department is involved in this... There were three bodies at the crematorium but our daughter's body was cremated first...The CM is talking about providing justice, but then attempts are being made to put the common people demanding justice in jail. We are not satisfied with the CM. We have refused to take any compensation..."
West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim tells ANI, "We have only one demand that CBI should complete the investigation and chargesheet should be filed. The actual culprit should be hanged to death. We don't know what the police are doing..."
Junior doctors gather in huge numbers for a march protesting the rape and murder of trainee doctor in front of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical college.
Psychological tests are conducted to examine the mental, emotional, and behavioural qualities of a person. This test helps to know about personality, intelligence, interests, attitudes and other psychological conditions. In this test, a person is asked to respond to ambiguous stimuli.
During the examination, layered voice analysis will also be done so that it can be ascertained that the accused is not lying. Truth or falsehood is ascertained by the suspect's voice.
CBI's Central Forensic Laboratory team will conduct a psychological test of the accused, Sanjoy Roy today. Here are some of the questions that are likely to be asked.
- What is your name?
- What do you do?
- Who is who in your family?
- How many mobile phones do you have? Tell their number.
- Name your friends.
- Do you have any enmity with anyone? If so why? Name them.
- What did you do on the day of the incident?
- Who did you meet?
- Did you consume alcohol on the night of the incident and how much alcohol did you drink?
- Are you addicted to drugs?
- What did you do at the hospital on the night of the incident? Who met whom?
- Why did you go to the seminar hall?
- Where did you see the victim?
- Did you ever talk to your victim again?
- Didn't you feel scared when you killed her?
- Where did you go after committing the crime? Who all did you call? Did you tell anyone about the incident.
- You got porn videos on your phone, how long has this addiction been?
The Kolkata police have summoned Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray for allegedly spreading misinformation about the details in the case.
Trinamool Congress Kunal Ghosh has rubbished a demand by TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray who said that there should be a custodial interrogation of Kolkata Commissioner of Police.
"... Today, MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has tweeted that there should be a custodial interrogation of the police commissioner (of Kolkata). We oppose this demand because CP Vineet Goyal did his best within 12 hours and the accused has been arrested and more interrogation was underway," Ghosh said.
"The CM had asked for more 3-4 days and there were chances of a breakthrough. But now the case is with the CBI and the CM has no objection in it. The emotion and the protest of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy are logical but such an illogical demand that he wants the police commissioner arrested, we condemn this demand. He should not have tweeted this...," he added.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has accused the Kolkata police of not doing their work properly. He also alleged that 'gundaraj' is prevalent in many parts of the state.
The Kolkata police have summoned Bharatiya Janata Party leader Locket Chatterjee for allegedly revealing the identity of the victim in the rape and murder case at RG Kar Hospital. A notice has also been issued to two doctors, Kunal Sarkar and Suvarn Goswami, for sharing misinformation about the probe.
Announcing a slew of measures for the safety of women at workplaces, Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandyopadhyay said the government has decided to develop mobile application with alarm devices, which can be downloaded by women and used for communication with the respective local police stations in case of any emergency.
Employees in state and private establishments, will be encouraged to form two-member women teams at night to keep each other updated about their activities, he added.
The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has announced a slew of safety measures for women at workplaces under the ambit of a flagship programme 'Rattirer Sathi – Helpers of the Night', comprising volunteers. Hospitals and medical colleges, hostels and other places engaging women during night shifts will now come under the ambit of the programme, said Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandyopadhyay.
Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Muzibullah Khan called for strict action against the accused in the Kolkata rape-murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. "Such incidents are occurring all over the country and they need to be stopped. The mentality of the people is very wrong... The state government needs to take strict action," he said.
Students and junior doctors continued their protest on Sunday at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital despite an order by the Kolkata police banning gatherings at the hospital for 7 days.
The Health and Family Welfare Department of West Bengal has revoked the transfer orders of 42 doctors amid the ongoing outrage and protests following the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The Kolkata police have imposed Section 163 under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 around RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for seven days starting from Sunday as protests rocked the site. During this period, no gathering, dharna or rally will be allowed there, said the Kolkata police in an order dated August 17.
Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi questioned as to why was West Bengal Cheif Minister Mamata Banerjee was staging protest against the incident when departments ranging from health to police come under her government.
"The most unfortunate thing is the situation that has developed there. Govts are accusing each other and holding protests instead of working on that case and women's safety and working on the shortcomings in the law," she said in an interview with ANI.
"Health Ministry, Police everything comes under CM (West Bengal), don't understand, against whom she is protesting and from whom she is demanding capital punishment. Law is in her hands, the govt can at least send the case properly to the lower court," she said.
Speaking on the Kolkata rape-murder case, Nirbaya's mother Asha Devi said that nothing has been done in these past years for the safety of women.
"I don't think anything has been done for women's safety and to bring crimes against women to justice, laws were definitely made but no work has been done. Nirbhaya's culprits were hanged in 2020 but before and after that so many incidents have happened...who got justice? Incidents are happening everyday...," she said.
"If you don't punish the culprits and put them in jail and feed them and take care of their needs, how will the women be safe? Till culprits are not punished, till work doesn't happen in fast track court and till work doesn't happen on the laws that have been made, society's mentality won't change and women won't be safe," she added.