On Sunday (18th August), a second-year B.Com student was arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly sharing three stories on social media regarding the rape and murder of a junior doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The police during the arrest claimed that the posts shared by the 23-year-old student were “provocative” and criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The arrested girl has been identified as Kirti Sharma. The authorities claimed that Sharma incited hatred against CM Mamata Banerjee and encouraged people to assassinate the CM.
According to a complaint filed with the police, the student posted three Instagram stories about the rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, purportedly revealing the victim’s identity and name, which is a punishable offense.
“The accused person also shared two stories against the CM of West Bengal containing offensive comments and threats to her life. An investigation into the case is in progress,” the Kolkata Police said.
The BNS sections 351 (2), 353 (1), and 352, which deal with intentional insults with the intent to create a breach of peace, as well as sections 72 and 79, which deal with words, gestures, and acts meant to offend a woman’s modesty, have been utilized for booking the student.
In the meantime, seven SFI-DYFI leaders also have received notices from Kolkata police to appear for questioning concerning sharing information related to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Another doctor has also received a warning for providing “misleading information.”
Not only this, notice has also been sent to TMC RS MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray for raising questions over the Kolkata Police’s investigation in the given case. “CBI must act fairly. Custodial interrogation of the Ex-Principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why floated the suicide theory. Why wall of the hall demolished, who patronized Roy to be so powerful, why were sniffer dogs used after 3 days.. 100s of such questions. Make them speak,” TMC MP posted on X attracting summons from the state police.
Ruling TMC's RS MP @Sukhendusekhar got summon to be present at @CPKolkata @KolkataPolice HQ for this tweet!
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) August 19, 2024
CP Kolkata singularly focusing on crushing all sane voices raised against #KolkataDoctorDeath n lackadaisical handling of the case!
We are documenting total notices… pic.twitter.com/Q2OvwZYi5l
A top BJP leader and two well-known doctors have also already received notices from Kolkata police requesting them to come to the police headquarters to address the illegal publication of the victim’s identity and the “spread of misinformation” on social media.
Numerous people are receiving notifications from police for allegedly disclosing the victim’s identity or disseminating “misinformation” regarding the rape-murder case. In two distinct cases of unlawful disclosure and “countering misinformation,” respectively, some 65 persons have received notice, as stated by police.
Also, on 16th August, 23-year-old Sagnik Laha, a polytechnic student was arrested by the Kolkata Police for criticizing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape-murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He had lashed out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo in a social media post. It was alleged that he used ‘derogatory words’ against Mamata Banerjee. Soon after, the young man was hounded by TMC supporters. A police complaint was eventually filed against Sagnik Laha, leading to his arrest from Alipurduar Junction on the 16th of August night.
What exactly happened to the girl on 9th August?
On 9th August, a semi-nude body of a female PG trainee doctor was found inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. It is a government-run hospital. Following the discovery, her father had said that she was raped and killed inside the hospital, and efforts were underway to “conceal the truth.”
The doctor had dinner with four of her coworkers at 2:30 am that night after seeing Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw event during the Paris Olympics. Afterwards, she went to the seminar hall to relax. The main accused in the case, Sanjay Roy, had access to every department as he worked at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital police outpost. He was not affiliated with the institution but often went there. CCTV evidence shows him entering the premises where the doctor was discovered, that led to his arrest on 10th August. He returned home after committing the horrifying act and slept in late. Roy also cleaned the outfit he wore to remove any evidence. The police recovered his bloodstained shoes during a search.
The Doctor was brutally tortured before she was suffocated to death, according to the post-mortem report. The four-page report stated that she had been strangled and that “perverted sexuality” and “genital torture” had resulted in serious wounds in her private parts.
The Doctor’s thyroid cartilage was also shattered. A source stated that the rape and murder occurred on 9th August most likely between 3 and 5 am. Her lips, fingers, left leg, and abdomen were all covered with injuries.
According to sources, the Doctor’s head was slammed against a wall or the floor resulting in severe injuries and her mouth and nose were squeezed shut to stop the victim from shouting. The accused had reportedly beaten her up as she attempted to defend herself and resist. He then raped and killed her. According to the autopsy, the girl’s hands and face had cuts on them. Shards of glass from her spectacles broke and got into her eyes following an intense blow. The initial postmortem report ruled out suicide and stated that the trainee doctor had been sexually assaulted before being murdered.
