• CM Mamata Banerjee to transfer case to CBI if Kolkata police fail to crack trainee doctor rape-murder case

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    CM Mamata Banerjee to transfer case to CBI if Kolkata police fail to crack trainee doctor rape-murder case
    This comes in the wake of widespread outrage and protests from the medical community demanding justice...

    Digital Desk: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a stern request regarding the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. In a statement on Monday, Banerjee declared that if the Kolkata police fail to resolve the case by Sunday, she will transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This comes in the wake of widespread outrage and protests from the medical community demanding justice.

    Banerjee’s remarks reflect the gravity of the situation. She revealed that upon learning of the incident from the Kolkata Police Commissioner, she had instructed that immediate action be taken, including the establishment of a fast-track court. The Chief Minister expressed concern over how such a heinous crime could occur in a hospital with supposed security and said the police had indicated the presence of an individual inside the hospital at the time of the crime. She also noted the resignation of RG Kar Hospital's Principal, Sandip Ghosh, as part of the ongoing fallout.

    The case has ignited intense reactions across the medical community, prompting an indefinite nationwide strike by doctors. Their demands include the immediate establishment of a fast-track court and the creation of a committee to ensure the implementation of the Central Protection Act in all hospitals. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has organized protests at hospitals nationwide, including major institutions in Delhi such as Lok Nayak Hospital and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

    Doctors nationwide are voicing their frustration over what they perceive as a lack of transparency in the investigation. Dr. Nitin Panwar, Joint Secretary of the Resident Doctor's Association at Safdarjung Hospital, criticized the inconsistent narratives from the government and administration. He emphasized the demand for a clear and transparent investigation, accusing authorities of shifting the narrative towards a possible suicide and thereby diluting the gravity of the case.

    In response to the growing unrest, Kolkata police have announced enhanced security measures around hospitals. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Abhishek Gupta stated that all individuals entering hospitals will now be recorded in a register to prevent unauthorized access and ensure security. Guards have been given identity cards to wear at all times during their duties as part of the effort to bolster safety.

    Meanwhile, Sandip Ghosh, who resigned as the Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, defended his resignation by claiming it was a response to defamation on social media. Ghosh described the deceased doctor as "like his daughter," expressing his deep personal distress over the incident.

    The situation remains volatile as the public and medical professionals await further developments. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's threat to hand over the case to the CBI underscores the high stakes involved and the significant pressure on local authorities to resolve the case swiftly. As the deadline approaches, the pressure on Kolkata police and the state government to address the demands of the protesting doctors and ensure justice for the victim intensifies.