Hell has broken loose in Kolkata after the ‘rape and murder’ of a 31-year-old trainee woman doctor in the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in east Kolkata. The protests by medicos and the general public were justified even as these took on a political colour to target Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and press for her exit from power. Mixing politics with such issues at this critical juncture is condemnable. This, granted that the college principal and the city police commissioner sought to mislead the victim’s family by initially branding this as a case of suicide. With so many injuries on the victim’s body, such a conclusion was perhaps part of an attempt to cover up the case with ulterior motives. It is understandable that the high court has intervened and handed over the investigations to the CBI.
Passing a central law, even with its crude provisions following the Nirbhaya gangrape case in Delhi in 2012 and its still sharper amendment the next year in themselves meant little. Over 30,000 rape cases are reported annually though Kolkata had fewer cases and Delhi starkly continued to be the hotbed of rapes. Preventive steps are equally important but are not in place. IMA is now demanding CCTV coverage for all hospitals. This should have been in place long ago. There still are issues. For instance, whenever a crime takes place, the first explanation from the police would be that their own CCTV cameras in the area were defunct. In government institutions, cameras are mostly non-functional mainly because shady activities including bribe-taking take place there. While CCTV cameras functioned in the Kolkata hospital, the coverage was over a limited space. It showed the prime accused coming in and going out of the hospital. This alone is no proof. The urgent demolition of the fourth floor of the medical facility, where the seminar room was located is also a clear case of destroying evidence.
While gang-rape was suspected, autopsy reports did not seem to have established this. The sudden resignation of the medical college principal was as surprising as his swift reinstatement. Rumours about an organ racket leading to the murder also spread. It is natural that the BJP joined in the anti-government protests and sought the chief minister’s resignation. Governor Ananda Bose drew derisive laughter even in this poignant scenario when he spoke up for women safety and sought to corner the chief minister. Political drum-beats apart, it is important to ensure women’s safety through concerted actions on the ground. There was practically no security in evidence at the RG Kar Medical College, as the National Commission for Women has pointed out. In this context, the 25 per cent increase in security at all hospitals, as ordered by the Centre this week, is a welcome step. It is a welcome step that the Supreme Court has taken suo-motu cognisance of the case.
