2024 R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder

2024 R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital Rape and Murder

Date	August 9, 2024
Location	RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Cause	Murder (Rape and Assault)
Deaths	1
Arrests	1 (as of initial reports)

On 9 August 2024, a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, was found dead in a seminar hall on the college campus. An autopsy later confirmed that she had been raped and murdered. The incident has since sparked significant outrage and nationwide protests, demanding a thorough investigation while also questioning the saftey of doctors in India.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on 12th August, 2024 announced a nationwide suspension of elective services in hospitals.

The Calcutta High Court on 13th August, 2024 asked the state police to hand over the case to Central Beureau Of Investigation (CBI) while expressing displeasure with the investigation so far.

Incident

On 9 August 2024, a postgraduate trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata was reported missing by colleagues. At about 11:30 am, the trainee doctor's body was discovered in one of college's seminar rooms in a semi-nude state with her through her eyes, mouth and genitals bleeding. She was later declared dead. An autopsy revealed that she had been raped and sexually assaulted and was later throttled to death, with her thyroid cartilage broken due to the strangulation. The report, spanning four pages, also noted a deep wound in her private parts, lips, left leg, right hand, ring finger, neck, and face.

Aftermath and Arrests

Following investigation, the police arrested one Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police disaster management force and a member of the police welfare association whose bluetooth headset was found on the crime scene.

Timeline of Events

Roy had traveled to Salua in Kharagpur from August 5 to August 8, 2024, to attend a meeting of the Police's Welfare Society. He claimed that he was on duty as a civic assistant during this period.

• August 8, Morning: Upon returning to Kolkata on the morning of August 8, Roy visited RG Kar Hospital, where he worked as a broker, facilitating the admission of a patient. After ensuring the patient was admitted, he left the hospital but returned later that night.
• August 8, Night: At around 11 PM, Roy returned to the hospital to assist the same patient with an X-ray. The patient’s family accompanied him during this time. After spending a few minutes with them, Roy left the hospital building.
• August 9, Early Hours: Roy returned to the hospital at around 1 AM to assist another patient scheduled for surgery. After helping this patient, he remained on the hospital premises, where he consumed alcohol with one of the patient’s relatives behind the hospital building. He also provided financial assistance to the patient’s family and arranged an Uber bike for their journey home.
• August 9, 3 AM: At approximately 3 AM, Roy went back to the third floor of the Chest Medicine building at the hospital. Within minutes, he entered the seminar hall where the female doctor was resting. It was in this location that he allegedly raped and murdered her. Roy left the seminar hall after about 40-45 minutes.
• August 9, 4:30 AM: CCTV footage captured Roy leaving the hospital premises at around 4:37 AM. He then returned to his barrack and went to sleep.

The accused is reported to have had a history of violent behavior, toward his wives and was a habitual drinker. He is reported to have married atleast four times and was termed a womanizer.

Protests

The incident garnered widespread media coverage and triggering outrage accross the nation especially within the medical community, as student unions and colleagues of the deceased demanded justice and improved security measures on campus.

In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called on Union Health Minister J P Nadda to introduce a special central law aimed at preventing violence against doctors. They also urged that hospitals be designated as safe zones. This appeal follows widespread protests and strikes by resident doctors across the country in response to the recent rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in Kolkata, raising serious concerns about the safety of medical staff.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on August 12, announced an indefinite nationwide suspension of elective services as a form of protest.

On August 13 2024, protests escalated as more than 8,000 government doctors in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, the financial capital of India, halted work in all hospital departments except for emergency services, according to media reports. In New Delhi, junior doctors wearing white coats staged a protest outside a major government hospital, holding posters that read, "Doctors are not punching bags". While emergency services stayed suspended on Tuesday in almost all the government-run medical college hospitals in Kolkata.Similar protests in cities such as Lucknow, and Goa hit some hospital services.

Outcome

Resignation of R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital principal

Dr. Sandip Ghosh, an orthopedic surgeon and the principal of R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, resigned amid the protests surrounding the incident. He cited an inability to endure the ongoing humiliation from social media criticism and defamatory remarks by politicians. Shortly after his resignation, he was appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College, a move that sparked further outrage.

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court directed the government to place him on extended leave.

Transfer of the Case to CBI

The Calcutta High Court on 13th August, 2024 asked the state police to hand over the case to Central Beureau Of Investigation (CBI) while expressing displeasure with the investigation so far.