Doctor Rape-Murder Case Highlights: Thousands of people assemble across Kolkata to demand justice

Beyond headlines: The endemic of rape in India

The horror of sexual violence has ignited the country again, forcing it to confront a fundamental, ugly truth.

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RG Kar: 13-km human chain formed, Left workers scuffle with police in another rally

Demanding justice for the deceased woman medic of R G Kar Hospital, thousands of people, including doctors and paramedics of private facilities, formed a 13-km human chain along an arterial city road on Tuesday, an unprecedented event in the city's history in recent years.

Participants of the human chain standing on the median divider of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass between Ultadanga and Patuli - linking the northern and southern parts of the city.

Since the protestors did not obstruct crossings during their one-hour stay on the road from 5 pm, this mode of agitation did not affect vehicular traffic movement along the busy road as hundreds of vehicles plied uninterrupted, a police officer said.

The participants waved the tricolour and held placards which read 'For how long we have to wait for justice', 'Hang the rapists' and 'Justice for our sister'.

(PTI)

Three stage and film personalities of Bengal return state honours over R G Kar issue

Amid protests by civil society organisations over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor, three prominent stage and film personalities of West Bengal on Tuesday announced returning the honours conferred on them by the state government over the RG Kar Hospital issue.

The three are actor Sudipta Chakraborty, known for national award winner films like ‘Bariwali’, theatre personality Biplab Bandyopadhyay and thespian Chandan Sen. Chakraborty decided to return the Special Film Award conferred on her by the Mamata Banerjee government in July 2013,

In a letter to the Secretary of Information and Cultural Affairs department, she said, "In the wake of the current status of our state and the related comments made on September 1 by one of our respected MLAs Kanchan Mullick, I hereby wish to return my certificate and the honour bestowed upon me and continue my demand for justice, both legal and social, standing on the road."

(PTI)

Bengal govt suspends ex-RG Kar Hospital principal after CBI arrests him

The West Bengal health department suspended former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh on Tuesday, a day after the CBI arrested him for alleged financial misconduct.

Ghosh was suspended 26 days after the body of an on-duty woman medic, who was allegedly raped and murdered, was found inside the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Hospital on August 9.

"In view of the ongoing criminal investigation against Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh, ex-principal, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, he is placed under suspension... with immediate effect," an order said.

(PTI)

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Amid RG Kar protests, TMC MP urges people to reclaim right to live with dignity

Amid ongoing statewide protests against the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, senior TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Wednesday urged the public to reclaim their right to live with dignity as enshrined in the Constitution of India.

“Reclaim the night—Reclaim people’s fundamental right to live with human dignity as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” he wrote in a post on X.

His post came ahead of the second "Reclaim the Night” protest on Wednesday, in which people are scheduled to gather at various key spots in Kolkata and other areas across West Bengal.

In the first “Women, Reclaim the Night” call given on social media by commoners, college students, home-makers and others congregated in key thoroughfares in small towns and big cities, including in various parts of Kolkata on August 14 night.

It was the first protest by the hoi polloi demanding justice for the deceased post-graduate trainee whose body was found on August 9.

Ray had extended his support to the programme and conducted a three-hour sit-in in South Kolkata, much to the embarrassment of his party, the TMC.

In August, Ray avoided further confrontation with his party's government in West Bengal by deleting a social media post regarding the alleged crime.

In the August 18 post on X, he had demanded “custodial interrogation” of former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal for their alleged dereliction of duty in handling the case and the subsequent large-scale vandalism on the hospital premises by a mob.

However, he had then asserted that he would continue to support the “spontaneous mass upheaval” against the horrific incident at the state-run hospital.

Ray had also moved the Calcutta High Court after being issued two back-to-back appearance notices by the Kolkata Police for “spreading rumours” on social media. He sought protection, initially ignoring the summons on medical grounds.

During the hearing, both the state and Ray informed the court that they had reached a settlement.

Via PTI

JD(U)'s KC Tyagi suggests castration for rapists

Janata Dal (United) leader K C Tyagi on Wednesday suggested castration as a punishment for rapists amid a fierce debate in the country over sexual assaults against women following the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata.

He also called for swift justice within a month in rape cases.

In an interaction with PTI editors, he said, "Ye log purush hi na bachein aisi saja honi chahiye (Their manhood should be excised). The potency of rapists should be finished off."

Asked about the ghastly crime in West Bengal and the subsequent nationwide outcry, he said as a socialist he believes that there cannot be a bigger atrocity than someone acting against the wishes of women.

Such a radical punishment for convicted rapists will ensure that he suffers for his crime till his last breath and nobody dares to commit such a crime, Tyagi said.

Asked if he considers his demand controversial, the JD(U) leader said it is "pro-women".

Tyagi, who recently stepped down as his party's spokesperson but remains its political advisor, advocated time-barred hearings in rape cases.

Justice should not take many years but should be served in a month, he said, suggesting that only women police personnel, doctors and judges should be involved in investigation and trial.

He said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's attitude following the incident was "unfortunate". He, however, supported the anti-rape bill passed by the state's assembly on Tuesday.

The proposed law stipulates capital punishment for convicts in rape-murder cases and jail term without parole in incidents of sexual assault.

A special two-day session of the House was convened by the government for the introduction and passage of the Bill, which was moved in the wake of widespread and continuing protests that have rocked the state in the aftermath of the alleged rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

The Bill was passed after the BJP MLAs, comprising the Opposition in the House, lent their support to it despite state Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari's allegation that Banerjee moved the Bill to "divert attention from public anger and protests" over the gruesome crime.

via PTI

Ex-principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital moves SC challenging HC order

Former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order dismissing his plea to be added as a party to a petition alleging financial irregularities at the institute during his tenure.

On August 23, the high court ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

via PTI