KOLKATA: Protests filled Kolkata streets Saturday after a high court granted bail to two men accused in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. Former medical college principal Sandip Ghosh and former police officer Abhijit Mondal were released after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to file charges within the required 90 days.
The two men were arrested on August 9th, following the death of the 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Hospital. They are accused of tampering with evidence and facilitating a rushed cremation against the family’s wishes for a second autopsy.
The victim’s family, alongside doctors’ associations and political groups, are demanding justice. “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 victim’s father stated at a Salt Lake rally.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) marched from Karunamoyee to the CBI office in Salt Lake. “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?” asked WBJDF member Debasish Halder.
Other groups, including the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) [SUCI(C)], Congress, and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), also organized protests. “We will submit a deputation to the CBI, but it will be just a blank paper because we are all shocked and left speechless. We had a lot of expectations, but the CBI has done nothing,” explained SUCI(C) leader Chandidas Bhattacharya.
The Joint Platform of Doctors plans wider protests involving health workers and citizens. “We are disappointed and angry. We will soon hit the streets in protest. We want to send a message to the state government and the federal agency that they need to do everything to ensure the girl gets justice,” said Dr. Utpal Banerjee, a member of the group.
The Service Doctors’ Forum (SDF) has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, requesting her intervention. The letter highlights Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s statement to the Chief Justice of India that the state government hasn’t granted permission for the CBI to prosecute Ghosh and Mondal. The SDF demands action against those involved in the crime and the alleged cover-up.
The victim’s family’s lawyer, Vrinda Grover, has withdrawn from the case, though the family confirms they have secured new counsel. “We have already held talks with another advocate. We will continue to fight,” the father confirmed.