West Bengal to seek death penalty for accused in doctor's murder: CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday vowed to seek death penalty for the accused in the brutal sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in a staterun hospital news agency PTI reportedHer announcement came shortly after the accused who was reportedly an outsider frequenting the hospital premises was arrested and later remanded in 14day police custodyBanerjee also instructed officials to expedite the trial by moving it to a fast track courtShe said her government would have no objections to a Central Bureau of Investigation CBI probe if the students demand it and emphasises If they do not trust the West Bengal government they can approach any investigating agency we have no objectionIn a post on X the Raj Bhavan said Governor CV Ananda Bose has asked the state government to take immediate action in the matter and submit a reportHG has asked the State Government to take immediate action in the matter and submit a report HG is also taking up the matter with the Govt of India for appropriate action the post said1 A delegation of National Medicos Organisastion NMO West Bengal called on HG and submitted a representation expressing deep anguish and protest on the murder of a 2nd year Post Graduate female Resident of R G Kar Medical College The deputation demanded proper security forhellipmdash Raj Bhavan Media Cell BengalGovernor August 10 2024The body of the woman doctor was found inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar Government Hospital in north Kolkata on FridayPreliminary autopsy reports indicated that she was sexually abused before being murderedThe accused has been charged with rape and murder based on circumstantial evidence and testimonies from doctors who were present during nightduty hours according to Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet GoyalThis is a heinous crime and the arrested person is allegedly involved based on circumstantial evidence including accounts of the other doctors present during nightduty hours Goyal told a press conference hereGoyal said the force will ensure that the accused gets the maximum punishment if the charges are proved in courtThe accused was charged under sections 64 rape and 103 murder of BNS and presented before Sealdah court which remanded him to 14 days police custody till August 23In response to the incident junior doctors and students at various staterun hospitals including RG Kar Medical College National Medical College and Medical College Kolkata held protest sitins and processionsSimilar protests also took place at district hospitals such as Bardhaman Medical College and Bankura Sammilani Medical CollegeMaintaining that protests and processions by junior doctors demanding exemplary punishment for the accused and enhanced security at hospitals were justified the Chief Minister urged the doctors to also carry on giving healthcare services to patientsI endorse the demands by the junior doctors she told a Bengali news channelThe Chief Minister who also oversees the Home and Health portfolios announced that police camps have been set up at every hospital to prevent further assaults on doctorsShe emphasised that hospital superintendents and principals are responsible for maintaining internal security and assured that any negligence on their part will be investigatedMeanwhile addressing protesters near the hospital CPIM West Bengal state secretary Mohd Salim said the City of Joy has turned into a City of bhoy fear No one is safe under this Trinamool Congress government the whole country is condemning the gruesome incidentDemanding a CBI probe into the incident Union Minister of State and BJPs West Bengal state president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters the injury marks on the body of the woman doctor indicate this cannot be the handiwork of one personExpressing surprise over spate of demonstrations over the incident Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said There can be protests over such heinous crimes That is perfectly understandable But after the statement of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that a probe by any other agency is welcome is there any necessity to continue the protestsA delegation of National Medicos Organisastion NMO West Bengal called on Governor C V Ananda Bose and submitted a representation expressing deep anguish over the incident The deputation demanded proper security for those on duty especially the women medical practitioners at nightWith PTI inputs