KOLKATA: Former colleagues of a 31-year-old resident doctor, raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College on Aug 9 last year, expressed deep disappointment with the verdict delivered by the Sealdah trial court Saturday. The court convicted main accused Sanjay Roy, but many felt the investigation and proceedings had not been thorough.
Several junior doctors were present at the court. “We are disheartened with this kind of shoddy investigation. We will be rallying behind the parents until complete justice is delivered,” said Arnab Mukhopadhyay, a junior doctor who had participated in hunger strikes demanding justice.
Members of Medical Service Centre, Service Doctors’ Forum, and Joint Platform of Doctors gathered near the court, expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of the case. “We knew Roy would be pronounced guilty. We are here to remind the agencies that the investigation has not been done properly,” said Utpal Banerjee, an orthopaedic professor. “The court verdict did not address the involvement of others and those who tampered with evidence,” said Sajal Biswas of Service Doctors’ Forum.
West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) distributed leaflets highlighting 20 unanswered questions about the case. “We will be happy only when complete justice is delivered. We will be considering legal options like moving to a higher court and other forms of protest to remind everyone that justice is not done until all guilty are punished,” said Asfakulla Naiya of WBJDF.
Senior resident doctor Snighdha Hazra, who had also participated in a hunger strike, criticised the CBI investigation. “We are still hoping for a supplementary charge sheet by CBI,” she said. Junior doctor Soumyadip Roy added: “The CBI investigation has failed to bring forth the motive behind the crime. How can we consider that justice has been delivered?”
Physician Biplab Chandra raised concerns about the pace and thoroughness of the investigation. “Seeing the pace of the CBI investigation, everyone feared that the real culprits might not be caught, and only Roy would be found guilty. This fear was not unfounded,” he said.
Back at RG Kar Medical College, doctors kept a close watch on the court proceedings while continuing their duties. Although the protest site was empty as doctors focused on their work, they ensured fresh garlands were placed on the bust of the victim and the “Cry of the Hour” sculpture, symbolising the tragic crime.
