Kolkata doctor rape-murder: NCW raises concern over 'tampering of evidence', alleges lapses in  probe

The NCW has revealed lapses in security, infrastructure, and the investigation surrounding the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has alleged that the site where the 31-year-old doctor was raped and murdered in a Kolkata hospital underwent sudden renovations, potentially leading to tampering with evidence. It said that Kolkata Police should have immediately sealed the crime scene. The Committee reported potential evidence tampering, noting that the site where the crime allegedly took place was undergoing sudden renovations.

The Committee’s preliminary findings revealed alarming lapses in the hospital’s security and infrastructure.
The inquiry also highlighted serious concerns regarding the investigation. The questioning of the former Principal, who resigned after the incident, remains incomplete, the NCW said in its preliminary report.

The NCW has also revealed that there were lapses in security, infrastructure, and the investigation surrounding the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital. The inquiry by NCW revealed that there was no security guards were present during the incident, leaving on-call interns, doctors, and nurses without sufficient protection during night shifts.

NCW found out that the hospital was also lacking basic amenities for female medical staff, including poorly maintained washrooms, inadequate lighting, and a complete absence of security measures. The findings come after the Commission took suo motu cognizance of the incident, which has shocked the nation. The body of the woman doctor was found in a seminar hall at the hospital on Friday morning, and a civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.

Reacting to media reports the NCW initiated an inquiry into the case. On 10 August 2024, the Commission addressed a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, demanding immediate action and a thorough investigation into the incident. To ensure a comprehensive investigation, the NCW constituted a two-member Inquiry Committee, comprising NCW member Delina Khondgup and advocate Soma Chaudhary from the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority.

*With Agency Inputs