On Tuesday, junior doctors from various government hospitals in West Bengal staged protests, expressing concerns about the alleged deficiencies in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet related to the murder and rape of their colleague at RG Kar Hospital.
The incident, which occurred on 9 August, has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice from the medical community.
Representatives from the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), the primary organization leading the protests, criticized the CBI for what they perceive as significant delays and unanswered questions regarding the investigation.
They particularly highlighted the time it took to send crucial evidence for forensic analysis, questioning, “Why did it take five days to send the evidence for forensic examination from the date collection?”
The timing of the CBI’s initial charges against the primary suspect, Sanjay Roy, just a week before a scheduled hearing at the CBI Special Court on 11 November, has troubled the protestors.
The court in Kolkata framed charges on Monday, but the junior doctors are demanding further transparency and accountability.
WBJDF Flags Missing Details In CBI Chargesheet; Raises Forensic Concerns
The WBJDF pointed out that the chargesheet lacks critical details regarding the suspect’s actions during a critical 27-minute window on the night of the crime, specifically between 3:36 AM and 4:03 AM when the victim’s body was discovered in a seminar hall on the hospital premises.
Additionally, the chargesheet overlooks the ‘sticky white fluid’ found on the victim, a detail mentioned in the post-mortem report that investigators have not pursued with DNA testing.
The organization raised concerns that the chargesheet seemed to rely heavily on initial findings from the Kolkata Police, who conducted the first investigation before the case escalated to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.
In response to their grievances, the WBJDF, supported by thousands of community members, has been holding demonstrations outside the CBI’s Salt Lake office in the northern suburbs of Kolkata, calling for swift justice and a thorough investigation into the tragic death of their colleague.
The protests have garnered significant public attention and support, underscoring the urgency and sensitivity of the case within the local medical community and beyond.
