It was August 9 when the incident of RG Kar was reported from the heart of Kolkata, West Bengal. And on September 9, as the nation’s quest for justice completes a month, the victim's parents still await for justice.
The death of the PGT doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital had sent shockwaves across the nation.
The incident has drawn attention of people from various countries too in demand of justice for the victim, thereby bringing to the forefront the poor conditions which the doctors of our country have to endure in order to serve patients.
The victim's father they were coerced into cremating her daughter;s body in a hurry against their wishes, claim reports.
The father has also, reportedly, accused the deputy commissioner (North) of Kolkata Police of offering them money while they were still grieving, shortly after returning home from the hospital.
Amid nationwide protests, the hearing on the matter in the Supreme Court has been listed for September 9th morning.
As a result, Bengal’s striking junior doctors on Saturday urged everyone to stop work for 30 minutes and come out on the streets at 10am on Monday.
“We have given a call for everyone to come down on the streets between 10am and 10.30am on Monday. People are requested to stop their work for these 30 minutes,” said Aniket Mahato, a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar hospital.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is slated to hear the matter, after the court took suo moto cognisance of the case.
The hearing will also deal with a recent application filed by the central government alleging that the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government had been non-cooperative in aiding the CISF which has been providing security at the RG Kar hospital.
Kolkata, which has been the epicentre of protest, is gearing up for another ‘reclaim the night’ protest on September 8.
The protest coincides with the festive occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Hence, several Ganesh Puja committees in Kolkata, have used their platform to demand justice for the victim, thereby scaling down their celebrations.
People from various age groups — including school students — and sections of the society have taken to streets having their eyes on the apex court’s verdict today.
Noted people from different fields, including musicians, artists, painters and actors, would join the 'Reclaim the Night' demonstration, which would start at 11 pm “to awaken the ruler”, social activist Rimjhim Sinha said.
On Sinha’s call, the first ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign took place in Kolkata on the eve of Independence Day.
Besides Kolkata, similar demonstrations were also planned in Barrackpore, Barasat, Budgebudge, Belgharia, Agarpara, Dumdum and Baguiati, among others.
Meanwhile, West Bengal governor CV Anand Bose has sent the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent after it was passed in assembly.
The anti-rape bill seeks capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has renewed its calls for the resignation of chief minister Mamata Banerjee once again, after the father of the victim alleged that the Kolkata police had offered them bribes to stay quiet about the hurried cremation of their daughter.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has also reportedly narrowed down their investigation to a single suspect Sanjay Roy, who is the prime accused till now, after ruling out possibilities of a gangrape.
The CBI conducted several interviews and polygraph tests in its investigation and is required to submit a report to the Calcutta high court on September 17.
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