WB: Abhaya's Case Betrayed-CBI's Inaction Sparks Outrage Again
Samprikta Bose
THE CBI's inability to submit an additional (supplementary) chargesheet within the given 90-day timeframe has resulted in bail on December 13 for both Sandip Ghosh (former RG Kar Hospital principal) and Abhijit Mandal (former OC, Tala Police Station) in the RG Kar trainee physician's rape and murder case. While Sandip Ghosh remains in custody due to other pending cases, Abhijit Mandal is now free.
Despite CBI's repeated accusations in court that Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mandal tampered with evidence and delayed the FIR, the agency failed to submit the additional chargesheet on time. This inaction has sparked renewed protests from doctors' organisations and citizen groups since December 13, with concerns that the justice system will become a mockery if the fight for justice is abandoned. The parents of the murdered RG Kar trainee doctor have announced a new phase in their fight for justice, as protests demanding accountability continue to escalate. The streets have been filled with chants of "We Want Justice," and student marches on College Street and elsewhere and an impressive protest rally on Rani Rashmoni Avenue have shouted "No Compromise!"
POLICE CRACKDOWN
Allegations of a BJP-TMC 'setting' have intensified, following the CBI's inaction. This sentiment was echoed by SFI leaders on College Street, and doctors and citizen activists protesting on Rani Rashmoni Avenue. The police also seemed to play a role in highlighting this alleged collusion. The four-month-long movement seeking justice for Abhaya and Tilottama has encountered consistent police resistance, harassment, and fabricated charges from its outset. This pattern persisted on December 14 as police initially obstructed the 'Abhaya Mancha' meeting on Rani Rashmoni Avenue by barricading the southern part. Despite negotiations with organisers, the meeting only proceeded after a tense standoff, during which police even attempted to prevent the setup of chairs. The hour-and-a-half meeting ultimately occurred on a makeshift stage atop a small truck.
Over and above these hurdles, a massive police contingent remained on high alert, desperately trying to prevent organisers from burning effigies of the prime minister, chief minister, and CBI director. The police seized the initial effigies and took them away in their own vehicles. But the protesters were not deterred. They arranged for alternative effigies which were burned at the meeting venue. Surrounded by a circle, the protesters chanted slogans as the effigy burned. At once, the police, led by Kolkata Police DC (Central) Indira Mukherjee, charged at the protesters, resulting in injuries. Organisers urged the protesters to remain calm and avoid police provocation. The diverse crowd, including many women and young people, returned to the front of the meeting stage.
Dr Utpal Banerjee, a prominent senior leading the protests, expressed his deep disappointment with the police's attempts to disrupt the peaceful protest. He stated that the police's behaviour was unacceptable and that they were trying to stifle the protesters' voices. However, he affirmed that the protesters would not be deterred and they had given the administration two more days to take concrete action. If no action was taken, they would intensify their movement. Dr Banerjee declared that the fight for justice would continue relentlessly until the culprits were punished.
Dr Tamonas Chaudhuri, joint convener of Abhaya Mancha, was deeply moved by the spontaneous participation of people from all walks of life and stated that the overwhelming support they had received had strengthened their resolve. He condemned the police's attempts to stifle dissent and urged the authorities to take immediate action, emphasizing that the police's attempts to suppress their voices would only strengthen their determination. He vowed that they would not rest until justice was delivered.
Pressure is mounting from political circles amidst allegations of a 'setting'. Legal experts are countering the argument from both the CBI and the ruling Trinamool that filing additional charges at this stage would delay the trial of the arrested Trinamool worker, police welfare committee member, and civic volunteer Sanjay Roy. The notion of delaying the trial and granting bail to two prime accused in such a heinous and sensitive case, where evidence was clearly tampered with, without filing a chargesheet within 90 days, raises serious legal questions. The CBI has not yet issued any official statement on the matter.
MURKY INVESTIGATIONS
On the morning of August 9, hours after the rape and murder happened at a seminar room of RG Kar Hospital, a video from inside the seminar room had gone viral on social media. This wasn't just any video – Kolkata Police themselves showcased it to journalists multiple times. The footage revealed a shocking scene: doctors with ties to Sandip Ghosh and the Trinamool Congress, some even travelling from distant cities, crowded the crime scene before the post-mortem, potentially contaminating crucial evidence. The video even captured a man in a red shirt, initially presented as a fingerprint expert by Kolkata Police, who was later exposed as Abhik Dey, a PG student at SSKM Hospital. Despite CBI's claims of evidence tampering, this crucial detail was conspicuously absent from their chargesheet, raising serious questions about their investigation.
The people of the state have been desperately seeking answers to a series of questions surrounding the rape and murder of the young medical student at RG Kar since August 9. These questions include: Was the crime premeditated? Was there only one perpetrator? Was the post-mortem examination conducted properly? Was the CCTV footage preserved correctly? Are the government, administration, or hospital authorities attempting to conceal information? Did the crime occur on the fourth floor? Was the motive solely a sudden sexual urge, or was there a more complex reason behind the rape and murder? Millions of people from all walks of life have taken to the streets, demanding justice and staying up at night. Despite these widespread protests, the CBI has yet to provide a direct answer to any of these questions.
In September, the CBI informed the Supreme Court that the state had only provided 27 minutes of footage in four clips, rather than the entire day's footage that was expected. The question of why the state withheld the full footage and what they were hiding was raised in court, but the CBI failed to include it in the chargesheet. Additionally, the 'white thick viscous liquid' and other samples found on the deceased's body were sent to the Central Forensic Laboratory. While the Solicitor General raised questions about the sample collection, there is no mention of who collected the swab samples, their rank, or who sent them. These questions and many others remain unanswered.
The CBI had listed 12 allegations in court after arresting the former OC of Tala police station. These included: delayed response to the scene, misrepresentation of the victim's condition in the general diary, failure to file an FIR under appropriate BNS sections, failure to secure the crime scene, tampering with evidence, and facilitating a hasty cremation against the family's wishes. However, these allegations were not included in the CBI's chargesheet, raising questions about potential pressure and collusion. The public is now demanding answers and justice.
PROTESTS SPREAD
Besides Abhaya Mancha, many other organisations are back on the streets seeking justice. The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (#WBJDF) has made it clear that if justice is not served, they are prepared to escalate their protests and organise large-scale movements. This firm stance reflects the collective determination of the people to seek justice for the victim and ensure that such heinous crimes are not repeated. On December 14, doctors, medical students, and concerned citizens participated in a significant protest organised by the WBJDF outside the CGO Complex in Kolkata. The demonstrators were demanding justice for the victim of the tragic incident and expressed their concerns over the perceived lapses in the investigation and the lack of transparency from the investigating agencies.
The protesters called for a thorough and impartial investigation, emphasizing the need for swift action and accountability from the authorities. The protest highlighted the public's growing frustration with the slow pace of justice and the suspected interference in the investigation.
The WBJDF has stated that they are prepared to escalate their protests and organise larger-scale movements if justice is not served. This firm stance reflects the collective determination of the people to seek justice for the victim and ensure that such heinous crimes are not repeated.
Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) organised protests throughout West Bengal on December 15 and 16, demanding justice for the victims of the RG Kar Medical College incident. The demonstrators accused the TMC government and the CBI of delaying the investigation and demanded a speedy and impartial probe. They chanted slogans like "We want justice" and "No tolerance for injustice." The three organisations also plan to burn effigies of the accused across the state to protest against this heinous act. "This is not justice, this is a mockery," stated Debanjan Dey, state secretary of SFI West Bengal. "We will fight until justice is served for Tilottama. We call on people from all corners of the state to join us and demand justice for Tilottama. Let the streets of Bengal echo with our demands."
SFI West Bengal state committee has initiated a strong protest demanding justice for Tilottama. The protesters allege that powerful forces are attempting to influence the legal proceedings in Tilottama's case. The protest has garnered significant public attention and support. In a similar vein, SFI Kolkata district committee has taken to the streets, demanding justice for Tilottama and an end to the culture of threats and corruption in educational institutions. The organisation held a protest march from Medical College Kolkata to NRS Medical College, demanding immediate student union elections. "This is a farce, not justice," said Barnana Mukhopadhyay, SFI Kolkata district president. "We won't stop fighting until we get justice, for Tilottama, for a fear-free campus, against every sort of corruption."
SFI North 24 Parganas district committee has launched a signature campaign demanding justice for Tilottama, which concluded with a Justice March on December 16, from Sodpur to Barasat DM's office. Similar movements will be undertaken throughout the state to demand justice, restoration of campus democracy, and an end to the culture of threats.
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