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Students held a protest rally on Friday demanding justice for the woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Nadia, Kolkata. (Ministry of Public Transport)
The NCW's findings also highlighted inadequate security measures, noting that no security guards were present when the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor occurred.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) inquiry committee on Friday revealed that the site where a female trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at a Kolkata government hospital underwent “sudden renovations that may have led to the tampering of evidence”.
NCW's findings also highlighted inadequate security measures, noting that on August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, without security guards present at the time of the incident.
The committee's preliminary findings identified key issues with hospital safety and infrastructure related to the case.
Insufficient security: The committee found that no security personnel were present at the time of the incident. Additionally, inadequate security for interns, doctors and nurses working night shifts leaves hospitals vulnerable.
Poor facilities: The hospital's facilities were found to lack basic facilities for women doctors and nurses. The restrooms are in poor condition with insufficient safety measures and insufficient lighting, creating an unsafe environment.
Investigation is incomplete: The investigation into the case was hampered by incomplete questioning of the former principal, who resigned after the incident. The committee called for a thorough and swift investigation into the matter.
lack of protection: They also found inadequate protection and safety measures for female trainees, nurses and doctors on call.
Tampering with evidence: The site where the deceased was allegedly raped and murdered is undergoing sudden renovations that could lead to evidence being tampered with, a committee report said. State police should have cordoned off the crime scene immediately.
The findings came after the incident came to the committee's attention.
NCW constituted a two-member inquiry committee consisting of NCW member Delina Khondgup and lawyer Soma Chaudhary from West Bengal Legal Services Authority. The committee arrived in Kolkata on August 12 and has been scrutinizing the circumstances surrounding the death of the trainee doctor since then.
Kolkata Police Chief: Don’t protect anyone
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal said on Friday that he also did not understand why there were rumors that his police department wanted to “cover up” the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the city.
“I don't understand why people are saying we want to cover this up and put an end to this,” Goyal said while addressing reporters in Kolkata. The senior police officer even challenged critics, saying: “If anyone in our team does anything wrong If the incident occurs, we will bear the responsibility for legal proceedings.”
He insisted police were not trying to protect anyone and were trying to be as transparent as possible in their investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at a public hospital here.
