The recent initiation of renovation work at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has sparked significant controversy following the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor last week. The renovations, taking place near the seminar hall where the victim’s body was discovered, have led to allegations of evidence tampering and cover-ups.
On Wednesday, protests erupted at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as various political and social groups expressed concerns over the ongoing renovations. Both Left-wing factions and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused hospital authorities of attempting to destroy crucial evidence related to the gruesome crime.
Activists from the CPI(M)-affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) have been vocal in their criticism, alleging that the renovation work is a deliberate attempt to obscure the crime scene. According to reports, the renovation is being conducted on the same floor where the victim was found.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya has accused the hospital of breaking down walls in the Chest Medicine Department, where the body was discovered. Malviya argued that these actions could potentially compromise the investigation led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by destroying vital circumstantial evidence.
Adding to the case’s complexity, a doctor from the Left-affiliated Joint Forum of Doctors has indicated that the postmortem report suggests the victim may have been gang-raped. Doctor Subarna Goswami, who reviewed the report with the victim’s family, emphasized that multiple perpetrators were likely involved.
The allegations and ongoing renovations have heightened tensions among local communities and activists, who are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the hospital authorities. As the CBI continues its investigation, the protests reflect deep-seated concerns about the integrity of the evidence and the handling of this high-profile case.
The situation remains fluid, with the community and political groups closely monitoring developments to ensure justice for the victim and proper handling of the investigation.
