kolkata-doctor-s-murder-prompts-state-govt-s-laxity

Alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a state-run RG Kar College and Hospital has attracted the nation’s attention. But what is more striking is the manner in which the Mamata Banerjee-led government has taken cognisance of the incident. 

 

It is noteworthy that even before the protests regarding safety in hospitals could gain momentum, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had asserted death penalty for the perpetrator and, surprisingly, agreed for a probe by the National Investigative Agency, too, if required. 

 

This is not it, the accused, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was nabbed without much complications and he even conveniently confessed to the heinous crime. 

 

Even the CM’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee jumped into the fray with the incredible proposal that rapists should be simply killed in encounters.

 

He even used the incident to take a dig at the Uttar Pradesh government. For a matter of fact as the doctor’s battered body being found in the hospital is being presented as a plus point since in UP the body would not have been located. 

 

However, reality, most of the time, is not the same as it posits. 

 

One still fails to understand how a civic volunteer could have free access to the place where doctors took naps while on duty.

 

The Kolkata Police has based the probe on bluetooth ear-phones without having to do much for the investigation. This raises eyebrows too.

 

Additionally, one wonders why did that woman doctor have to sleep on a makeshift bed in a seminar hall instead of a proper duty room bunk? 

 

Is it not standard procedure for hospitals to provide rooms for doctors to rest, especially female ones? 

 

The protests by her fellow doctors indicate there are probably no such rooms, not enough of them or junior doctors cannot access such facilities. 

 

While these concerns lurk, one still fails to understand how Roy was an accepted interloper at odd hours and how the security staff did not prevent him from entering areas of the hospital that he had no business being in. 

 

The consistent hiring of civic volunteers by the police in West Bengal, instead of regular recruits, has indeed become a controversial and increasingly problematic issue. While this practice may have initially been intended to supplement the police force, it has led to several unintended and serious consequences.

 

Civic volunteers are typically paid very little, which creates an environment where some may seek to supplement their income through unofficial and often illegal means. This has led to instances where civic volunteers have overstepped their roles, engaging in activities that should be the exclusive domain of trained law enforcement officers.

 

One of the most troubling aspects is that civic volunteers have been allowed to handle local disputes and enforce rules within their communities. This effectively makes them neighborhood enforcers, often without proper oversight or accountability. 

 

The power they wield, combined with their lack of formal training, can result in abuses of power, corruption, and even involvement in criminal activities, as seen in the tragic case of the young doctor in Kolkata.

 

They also have political affiliations, so they are “effective” enforcers, but remain outside any disciplinary purview, unlike regular police staff.

 

The situation demands a re-evaluation of the recruitment and deployment strategies for civic volunteers. Additionally, the police force should prioritise the hiring of regular recruits who meet the necessary qualifications and standards to uphold law and order effectively.

 

This ongoing issue has serious implications not just for law enforcement but for the broader social and political environment in West Bengal, where the lines between legal authority and local power dynamics have become increasingly blurred.

 

The incident takes us back to the murder of Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse who was raped, strangled with a dog leash and left to die by a ward boy whom she had scolded, in Mumbai’s King Edward’s Memorial Hospital in 1973. 

 

Aruna survived, in a manner of speaking, for she remained in a coma for 43 years, tended lovingly by her colleagues even as a journalist campaigned for euthanasia. She finally passed away on her own. Her rapist got away with serving just seven years in jail.

 

The chances of the same thing happening in the current case cannot be ruled out. 

 

The case involving the alleged rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata highlights deep-rooted issues within India’s healthcare system and the broader society. 

 

The slow pace of justice in India often means that high-profile cases like this one can fade from public memory, with the accused potentially escaping the full measure of accountability.

 

This is a tragic reflection of how the system often fails victims, particularly in cases involving powerful or politically connected individuals.

 

The anger and frustration expressed by the doctor’s colleagues are not just about seeking justice for her; they also speak to the broader systemic failures that put healthcare workers, especially women, at risk. 

 

The lack of adequate security in state-run hospitals is a pervasive issue, and it’s not just limited to Kolkata or West Bengal.

 

This incident brings to light the severe lapses in safety protocols that should have been addressed long ago, especially after high-profile cases like that of Aruna Shanbaug, whose suffering became a symbol of the vulnerabilities faced by female medical staff.

 

Shanbaug’s case should have served as a wake-up call for the entire country, prompting strict security measures in hospitals nationwide. However, the reality is that many state-run hospitals, including those in West Bengal, continue to operate with inadequate security, leaving staff members, particularly women, exposed to significant risks. 

 

The response from the Chief Minister and other authorities should go beyond promises of severe punishment for the accused. While ensuring justice for the victim is crucial, it is equally important to address the systemic issues that allowed such a crime to occur in the first place. 

 

Without addressing these underlying issues, any promises of justice or change will likely remain superficial, and the safety of healthcare workers will continue to be compromised.