The brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old female junior resident doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 has sparked widespread outrage across the nation. The incident, which occurred within the hospital premises, has not only horrified the medical community but also led to widespread protests and disruptions in healthcare services across West Bengal. As the investigation unfolds and the accused faces serious charges, the tragedy has prompted urgent calls for enhanced security measures in medical institutions and a swift, thorough probe to ensure justice is served.
Let us take a look at the events that unfolded on the fateful day and thereafter.
August 5-8: Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, traveled to Salua in Kharagpur to attend a Police Welfare Society meeting. He stayed there from August 5 to August 8, claiming he was on duty as a civic assistant.
August 8, Morning: Upon returning to Kolkata, Sanjay Roy visited RG Kar Hospital to facilitate the admission of a patient. After ensuring the patient was admitted, he left the hospital but returned later that night.
August 8, Night: Around 11 pm, Sanjay returned to the hospital to assist the same patient with an X-ray, accompanied by the patient's family. After spending some time with them, he left the hospital building.
August 9, Early Hours: At around 1 am, Sanjay returned to the hospital to help another patient whose surgery was scheduled. He consumed alcohol with a patient’s relative behind the hospital building and provided financial assistance for their journey home.
August 9, 3 am: Sanjay returned to the third floor of the Chest Medicine building at the hospital. He entered the seminar hall where the lady doctor was resting, where he allegedly raped and murdered her. He left the hall after about 40-45 minutes.
August 9, 4:30 am: CCTV footage captured Sanjay leaving the hospital premises at around 4:37 am. He returned to his barrack and went to sleep.
Later that morning, Kolkata Police detained Sanjay Roy from the barrack after reviewing CCTV footage and observing his suspicious activities. He was brought back to the hospital for questioning.
August 9, Evening: Following a prolonged interrogation, the police arrested Sanjay Roy, who now faces charges of rape and murder in connection with this crime.
August 10: Doctors at RG Kar Medical College, where the incident occurred, announced a strike, demanding proper action and increased security measures on campus. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to complete the probe, threatening nationwide protests if the culprits were not arrested.
August 12: Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, stepped down from his position after being pressured by protesting doctors, who were outraged by his remarks questioning the victim's presence in the seminar hall alone at night.
August 13: National outrage grew as the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) announced a national shutdown of OPD services in solidarity. AIIMS doctors held protests on their campus. The Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the incident, directing the police to hand over all documents immediately.
Hospital services across West Bengal remained disrupted due to ongoing protests by the medical fraternity over the gruesome incident. Interns and postgraduate trainees at state-run medical establishments joined the agitation, vowing to continue until justice is served.
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