A committee constituted by the National Commission for Women (NCW) probed the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and submitted its preliminary findings uncovering loopholes in security, infrastructure, and investigation.
In a statement NCW said that the site where the victim was allegedly raped and murdered is undergoing sudden renovations, potentially leading to tampering with evidence.
“The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo moto cognizance of a distressing incident reported by the media involving the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata. The Commission, deeply concerned by the gravity of the situation, has promptly initiated an inquiry into the matter,” it said.
It added, ‘On 10 August 2024, the NCW addressed a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, seeking immediate action and a thorough investigation into the incident. The Commission’s involvement was triggered by a media report captioned “Kolkata rape-murder: Hospital official told doctor’s family she died by suicide, according to the media reports,” which revealed shocking details surrounding the death of the trainee doctor’.
The two-member inquiry committee constituted by the NCW included Delina Khondgup, an NCW Member, and Soma Chaudhary, an Advocate appointed by the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority.
The statement from NCW said, “The Commission constituted a two-member Inquiry Committee to investigate the case, consisting of Delina Khondgup, NCW Member, and Soma Chaudhary, an Advocate appointed by the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority. The Committee arrived in Kolkata on 12 August 2024 and has been rigorously examining the circumstances surrounding the incident’.
During the incident, the Inquiry Committee of the NCW found that no security guards were present and there was insufficient security coverage for on-call duty interns, doctors, and nurses during night shifts.
“The hospital lacks basic amenities for female doctors and nurses, with washrooms in poor condition, no security measures, and inadequate lighting. The questioning of the former Principal, who resigned after the incident, remains incomplete. The Inquiry Committee urges a thorough and expedited investigation,” the statement said.
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