Bengal Rape and Murder Case: A CBI team from Delhi will visit the crime scene tomorrow.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has assumed responsibility for investigating the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at a government medical college in Kolkata, West Bengal.
“The CBI has taken over the Kolkata rape and murder case and is sending a specialised medical and forensic team from Delhi to Kolkata,” an official with the agency told ANI.
“The team is scheduled to depart early Wednesday morning,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to investigate the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor that took place on August 9 at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court directed the Kolkata Police to promptly transfer all related documents to the CBI.
Earlier that day, doctors and medical students staged a protest at AIIMS Delhi after the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) called for a nationwide shutdown of OPD services starting Tuesday, in protest against the sexual assault and murder of the woman doctor.
In the meantime, following instructions from Union Health Minister JP Nadda, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued an advisory to all medical colleges and institutions to establish a policy ensuring a safe working environment.
According to the official public notice, “Incidents of violence against doctors in medical colleges have been reported in the recent past. All medical colleges are requested to develop a policy for a safe work environment within the college and hospital campus for all the staff members including faculty, medical students and resident doctors.”
“The policy should ensure adequate safety measures at OPD, wards, casualty, hostels and other open areas in the campus and residential quarters. Corridors and campus be well-lit in the evening for staff to walk safely from one place to another and all sensitive areas be covered by CCTV for monitoring,” it said.
Earlier in the day, Union Health Minister JP Nadda held a meeting with a delegation from the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The IMA had called for a comprehensive investigation into the events leading up to the crime and advocated for improved safety measures for doctors, especially women, in the workplace.
The post-graduate trainee doctor was discovered dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The victim’s family has claimed that she was raped and murdered.
(With inputs from ANI)
