Doctor Rape-Murder: Ex-NCW Chief Rekha Sharma Demands President's Rule in West Bengal

Kolkata: Former National Commission for Women (NCW) Rekha Sharma, on Monday, demanded President's Rule in West Bengal after the horrific rape and murder of a doctor trainee in Kolkata.

Sharma, while speaking to ANI, said, "A police volunteer committed the rape and murder of a woman inside a hospital. If a doctor isn’t safe even in a hospital, where can they be safe? Women are not secure in West Bengal. This is yet another incident that highlights the lack of safety for women in West Bengal - a state where the Chief Minister herself is a woman."

Demanding the case to be transferred to the CBI for further probe, Sharma said the police had significantly delayed their response in this case and that the accused should have been arrested on the very first day.

Sharma said, "Similar to other cases in West Bengal, there has been a delay in this one too. This case should have been handed over to the CBI earlier; it’s been delayed too much. The case must be transferred to the CBI to ensure the perpetrator receives severe punishment. There should be thorough verification for volunteers joining the police force. This individual assaulted women around him, so how did the police allow such a person to be a volunteer? Mamata Banerjee, we need to train our police to work properly, and those who fail should be punished."

Sharma concluded that no action was taken on the murders and rapes that occurred after every election in the state. Sharma said, “This demonstrates that the rule of law is being undermined by criminals there. President's rule should be imposed to ensure the safety of women.”

Earlier in the day, investigation revealed traces of blood and skin of Sanjay Roy the prime accused in the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The traces were found under the victim's fingernails, which were a 'perfect' match with that of Roy's and corresponded to the injuries he suffered. 

NCW Team Arrives in Kolkata, To Meet Cops, Family of Deceased

A two-member team of the NCW on Monday arrived in Kolkata in the wake of a woman doctor’s alleged rape and murder at a state-run hospital here.

The two-member team, led by Delina Khongdup, went straight to the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar from the airport to speak to officers investigating the case.

"This is a very unfortunate incident and one of the most heinous crimes in recent times. Such incidents have been happening in West Bengal. We will be meeting the police officers today, and also visiting the parents of the victim. We will then go to the hospital where the crime took place,” Khongdup told reporters at the airport.

The body of the woman post-graduate trainee, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital, was found on Friday morning. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the case.

(with PTI inputs)