New Delhi: A day after two key accused in the rape and murder of a woman doctor from RG Kar Medical College were granted bail, various organisations and political parties held protests across Kolkata on Saturday, expressing dissatisfaction with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s handling of the case.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), along with civil society groups and other organisations, staged demonstrations demanding justice for the deceased doctor. Hundreds of junior doctors marched from Karunamayi to the CBI office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake, while another protest took place at Rani Rashmoni Avenue.
Parents of deceased doctor also participate in protest
The parents of the deceased doctor also participated in the demonstrations. The victim’s mother said, “We will fight for justice—it is our right.” A delegation of eight junior doctors submitted a memorandum to the CBI at CGO Complex, urging the agency to expedite its investigation and ensure the culprits are brought to justice.
The Left parties and Congress organised separate rallies accusing the CBI of inefficiency and alleging collusion between the BJP-led central government and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Congress activists marched from Rabindra Sadan to the CBI office at Nizam Palace, raising slogans. A scuffle broke out when the police stopped the protesters from entering the office premises.
Court grants bail to Sandip Ghosh, Abhijit Mondal
The protests were sparked by the Sealdah court’s decision to grant bail to Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, and Abhijit Mondal, former officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station, after the CBI failed to file a chargesheet within the mandated 90 days.
Dr Bipplab Chandra, state secretary of the Medical Service Centre, criticised the CBI’s inefficiency. “Earlier, the agency assured us they would file a chargesheet within the 90-day period. Now, they claim 90 days are insufficient. This raises questions about the influence on the investigation,” he said.
TMC leader Firhad Hakim dismissed the protests as politically motivated and suggested the case should be handed over to the state police. “The state police arrested the main accused within 24 hours. If the protesters are serious about justice and not merely politicising the issue, they should support the state police,” he said.
