West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed to seek the death penalty for the accused in the brutal murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital. The incident has sparked outrage and protests by junior doctors across the state.
Banerjee expressed deep sorrow and anger over the crime, calling it “unfortunate and despicable.” She assured the protesting doctors that their demands for justice would be met and that the case would be fast-tracked. “The incident is unfortunate and despicable. It feels like a personal loss to me. Their anger and demand is justified. I support it. Police have also accepted their demands. I have directed the case to be taken to a fast-track court. If needed, the accused will be hanged. But they should be given the strictest punishment,” she said.
Banerjee also declared her government’s willingness to cooperate with any agency investigating the case, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). She urged the junior doctors to continue providing healthcare services while they protest.
The victim, a woman postgraduate trainee doctor, was found partially clothed in a seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Friday. The autopsy report revealed signs of sexual assault before her death, which occurred between 3:00 am and 6:00 am.
Police have arrested one person in connection with the crime, an outsider who had free access to various departments of the hospital. “We have arrested one person, who is an outsider. His activities are quite suspicious and he seems to be directly involved in the crime,” a police officer told PTI. The investigation is ongoing.
The incident has highlighted concerns about the safety of healthcare workers and sparked a broader debate about gender-based violence in India.
