Disclaimer: This article contains disturbing details of sexual assault. Viewer discretion is advised.
A horrifying incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has shaken the country and has proved that women are not even safe at their workplaces.
A 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered on the hospital premises late on Thursday night, August 10. The victim, who was on night duty with four colleagues, was found dead in a semi-nude condition with multiple injuries in a seminar hall the next morning.
On the night of the incident, the victim and her colleagues watched Neeraj Chopra’s silver-winning throw at the Paris Olympics, had dinner together, and the victim went to the seminar hall to rest for a bit because she was on a 36-hour duty.
The autopsy report of the trainee doctor brutally revealed the harrowing details of her assault and murder. The report confirmed that the victim had been raped before being killed, with injuries that painted a horrifying picture of the crime.
She had suffered injuries to her neck, with a broken neck bone, indicating that she was likely strangled before being smothered to death. There were also injuries on her belly, left leg, and right hand, and both her eyes were bleeding, reported Mint.
A civic volunteer who frequented the hospital was arrested after CCTV footage showed him entering the building around 4 AM.
According to NDTV, a Bluetooth headset paired with his phone was found at the crime scene. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of more individuals being involved in the crime.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has promised swift action, setting a deadline for the police to solve the case. If the investigation is not completed by Sunday, Banerjee has vowed to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
She has also vowed to seek death penalty for the accused, reported India Today.
#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College & Hospital incident | Delhi: Doctors and medical students gathered to protest over the Kolkata medical student death incident.
The members of #FORDA call for a nationwide strike and demand justice for the tragic death of a second-year PG resident pic.twitter.com/o0eCro8Aib— HornbillTV (@hornbilltv) August 12, 2024
The incident has sparked widespread protests by doctors and medical students across the country. The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of Delhi’s AIIMS has put forth demands, including a CBI inquiry, strict action against the culprits, and enhanced security measures for doctors. The resignation of RG Kar Medical College’s principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, following the protests, further underscores the severity of the situation.
This brutal crime raises serious concerns about the safety of women in their workplaces, particularly in environments where they should feel most secure. Hospitals, like RG Kar Medical College, are meant to be safe spaces where healthcare professionals can focus on their critical duties without fear. Yet, this tragic incident reveals that even in such institutions, the safety of women is not guaranteed.