Jobaaj Stories
Protests broke out in Kolkata on Saturday after the Calcutta High Court granted bail to Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and Abhijit Mondal, the former officer-in-charge of Tala police station. The two were arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in August.
The reason for the bail was the failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit the chargesheet within the legally required 90-day period. As a result, Ghosh and Mondal were granted bail, sparking outrage among the victim’s family, doctors’ associations, and political groups.
The victim, a young trainee doctor, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in August. It was later revealed that she had been raped and murdered. Ghosh and Mondal were accused of tampering with evidence and facilitating the hasty cremation of the victim’s body, even though the family had requested a second autopsy.
The victim’s parents, along with several doctors’ organizations, expressed their anger on the streets. During a protest rally in Salt Lake, the victim’s father said, “We don’t know what the CBI is planning. We are, however, not losing hope. We will fight till the end to get justice. The legal battle and the fight on the streets will continue in parallel.”
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) organized a rally from Karunamoyee to the CBI office at the CGO complex in Salt Lake. During the rally, Debasish Halder, a WBJDF member, said, “Today, men like Ghosh have been granted bail. Tomorrow, he may be reinstated in a reputed medical college. We will remain on the roads until we get justice. We had faith in the CBI, but what is the agency doing?”
The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) [SUCI(C)] also joined the protests, marching along the same route earlier in the day.
The protestors have demanded justice for the victim and accountability for those involved in the crime. The family, doctors, and political leaders have vowed to continue their fight for justice, despite the setback caused by the bail.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and whether the authorities will take further action in the case. The protests in Kolkata are a reminder of the public's frustration with the legal system and their determination to see justice served.
