Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi questions role of local administration

Indian Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Congress lawmaker Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday broke his silence on the rape and murder of the PG trainee doctor in Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and said the incident created an atmosphere of insecurity among the doctors’ community and women.

“The entire country is shocked by the gruesome incident of rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata. The way the layers of the cruel and inhuman act against her are being revealed, there is an atmosphere of insecurity among the doctors’ community and women,” he said.

Questioning the local administration’s role in the incident which has triggered a massive outrage across the country, Gandhi said: “The attempt to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration.”

“This incident has forced us to think that if doctors are not safe in a place like medical college, then how can parents send their daughters outside for studies? Why are even the strict laws made after the Nirbhaya case unsuccessful in preventing such crimes?” he said.

Urging there is a need to discuss the growing episode of atrocities against women, the Rae Bareli MP said: “Every party, every section of the society will have to hold serious discussions and take concrete steps on the continuously increasing incidents against women from Hathras to Unnao, and from Kathua to Kolkata.”

He showed his solidarity with the family of the victim and demanded punishment for the accused. Gandhi said: “I stand with the victim’s family in this unbearable pain. They should get justice at all costs and the culprits should be given such a punishment that it is presented as an example in the society.”

About the RG Kar incident that triggered widespread protests

The 31-year-old medical student was allegedly raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata’s Belgachia area, last week.

Though a civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the case, protesting students, who went for ceasework across the state, suspect more people are involved in the case. The authorities, including the hospital, are accused of evidence tampering before the CBI steps in.

Social media is also rife with posts on how the ruling Trinamool Congress women MPs are silent on the issue since the news broke.

Now former RG Kar College principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who resigned after the students’ protests, had reportedly stirred a controversy by passing the blame to the victim itself.

The administration has come under the scanner as the victim’s parents claimed they were initially told that the 31-year-old committed suicide.

However, the autopsy report claimed she had multiple injuries to her body and some doctors even suspect it was gangrape going by the incident medically.

Though West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed she had no objection to the CBI probe, protesters and netizens slammed her for giving a seven-day deadline to police to wrap up the investigation before handing over the matter to the central probe agency.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday snubbed the Chief Minister’s deadline and handed over the case to the CBI, which will probe into the matter under the monitoring of the judiciary.

The accused civic volunteer was on Wednesday handed over to the CBI by police.