Accused Civic Volunteer Misused Police Connections in Kolkata Doctor’s Murder
NEW DELHI: Amid nationwide outrage over the tragic rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued an ultimatum to the police on Monday. She declared that if the case isn’t solved by Sunday, she would transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“If the police cannot resolve this by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI,” Mamata Banerjee stated after meeting the victim’s family.
Despite her frequent criticism of the CBI, accusing it of acting under the influence of the BJP-led Central government, the Chief Minister acknowledged the possibility of involving the central agency. However, she added, “The success rate of the central probe agency is very low.”
The body of the 31-year-old doctor was discovered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Friday morning.
Arrest of the Main Accused
A day after the horrific incident, Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer identified as the main accused in the rape and murder case. The brutal nature of the crime has sparked widespread outrage across the nation, leading to a pan-India strike by doctors in protest. Meanwhile, three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed in the Calcutta High Court, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.
Questions Surrounding the Call for a CBI Probe
Despite the arrest and the accused being in 14-day judicial custody, opposition parties and others are still pushing for a CBI investigation. This has raised questions about why there is a demand for a central investigation when the accused is already in custody.
The Suicide Allegations
The case took a controversial turn when the deceased doctor’s family accused the hospital of attempting to cover up the crime by initially labeling it as a suicide. The family has expressed their desire for justice, questioning why hospital authorities first claimed it was a suicide. They believe the hospital was trying to hide something.
The police later ruled out suicide, after an initial autopsy report indicated that the doctor was murdered following a sexual assault. The report revealed disturbing details, including injuries and bleeding from various parts of the victim’s body, indicating a violent struggle.
The Gruesome Details of the Crime
According to police, circumstantial evidence suggests that the doctor was murdered before being raped by the accused. The victim was reportedly attacked while sleeping alone in the hospital’s seminar hall. She tried to resist but was strangled and smothered to death. The possibility that the accused raped her posthumously is also being investigated.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar condemned the incident, demanding a CBI inquiry due to inconsistencies in the police’s statements. He pointed out that the accused, now in custody, is part of the police administration, which raises further concerns.
Security Lapses and Easy Access
The accused, Sanjay Ray, reportedly had unrestricted access to various parts of the hospital, including rooms and wards, highlighting significant security lapses. Ray, known as a “police guy,” misused his position as a civic volunteer to gain entry to areas he shouldn’t have had access to.
In response to the crime, the hospital authorities dismissed two security personnel for failing to perform their duties, which indirectly allowed the crime to occur.
Sanjay Ray’s Police Connections
The investigation revealed that Ray, though a civic volunteer, enjoyed privileges typically reserved for regular police officers. He lived in a police barrack meant for full-time officers and had access to personal numbers of lower-ranking police officers. His role in the police welfare association granted him further influence and mobility within the hospital.
Criticism of the Mamata Government’s Inquiry Panel
The West Bengal government’s decision to form an 11-member inquiry panel to investigate the case has drawn criticism from the opposition. Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, questioned the inclusion of interns in the panel, suggesting the government is either covering up its negligence or not taking the matter seriously.
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul also demanded a CBI investigation and called for a re-postmortem at a Central Government hospital, expressing concerns that the truth may be buried under the state system.
The Accused’s Behavior After the Crime
After committing the crime, the accused reportedly returned to the police barrack and slept until the next morning. The police have reconstructed the crime scene and are analyzing CCTV footage to gather more evidence. The accused’s clothes, which he washed after the crime, and his blood-stained shoes have been seized as evidence.
When asked if others were involved in the crime, police officials stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting additional accomplices.
Related
Kolkata Doctor’s Rape-Murder Accused Posed As Cop, Said “Hang Me” On Arrest
After raping and murdering doctor, accused went to sleep, washed his clothes: Kolkata Police
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