- By Kamal Kumar
- Sat, 17 Aug 2024 09:42 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A National Commission for Women (NCW) inquiry, constituted to investigate the RG Kar hospital rape and murder case, submitted its report on Saturday, with primary findings indicating serious lapses in the security, infrastructure and preliminary investigation. The two-member committee made serious allegations in its report, claiming that renovation work was suddenly started at the site near the crime spot, evoking suspicion of evidence tampering.
The National Commission for Women had earlier taken suo moto cognisance of the heinous crime which shook the whole nation. A women trainee doctor was brutally raped and mercilessly killed while she was on the college campus on August 9.
"The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo moto cognizance of a distressing incident reported by the media involving the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata. The Commission, deeply concerned by the gravity of the situation, has promptly initiated an inquiry into the matter," it said.
The commission said that it had to intervene after some people tried to change the narrative surrounding the death of the trainee doctor from murder to suicide.
"On 10 August 2024, the NCW addressed a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, seeking immediate action and a thorough investigation into the incident. The Commission's involvement was triggered by a media report captioned "Kolkata rape-murder: Hospital official told doctor's family she died by suicide, say sources," which revealed shocking details surrounding the death of the trainee doctor," it added.
"The Commission constituted a two-member Inquiry Committee to investigate the case, consisting of Delina Khondgup, NCW Member, and Soma Chaudhary, an Advocate appointed by the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority. The Committee arrived in Kolkata on 12 August 2024 and has been rigorously examining the circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement from NCW said.
The Inquiry Committee of the NCW found that no security guards were present during the incident, and there was insufficient security coverage for on-call duty interns, doctors, and nurses during night shifts.
"The hospital lacks basic amenities for female doctors and nurses, with washrooms in poor condition, no security measures, and inadequate lighting. The questioning of the former Principal, who resigned after the incident, remains incomplete. The Inquiry Committee urges a thorough and expedited investigation," the statement said.
"There is no adequate protection or safety for on-call female duty interns, nurses, and female doctors. The site where the deceased was allegedly raped and murdered is undergoing sudden renovations, potentially leading to tampering with evidence. The crime scene should have been sealed immediately by the police," it added.