Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: Protesters Claim Evidence Lost Due to Construction Near Crime Spot, Seek Accountability

Hours after the Calcutta High Court’s direction, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday took over the probe into the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run RG Kar medical college in the West Bengal capital. Soon after, the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum wrote to the central probe agency alleging attempts of evidence tampering via construction work near the crime spot.

The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor with severe injury marks was found on Friday inside the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital’s chest department. The preliminary autopsy report suggested she was subjected to violent sexual assault.

“We have come across reports of sudden civil reconstruction works in and around the scene of crime at the same institution. We are extremely apprehensive about the motive behind such an effort and we think that this might hamper the investigation by tampering with important evidence,” said the letter, signed by Dr Koushik Chaki and Dr Sanjoy Holme Chowdhury.

“We have informed the same to the state health secretary. We request you to look into the matter with utmost care and due regard the same deserves to ensure justice to the slain lady doctor,” it said.

Protesters seek accountability

The protesting doctors sought accountability for potential evidence loss due to changes in the crime scene.

“Why did construction begin near the crime scene? Why can’t the police handle the situation? If there is any loss of evidence, will the administration take responsibility for it?” they asked.

“We want justice. We want police to stop people from entering the hospital or the crime scene,” they said.

They questioned the sudden construction work that began next to the seminar hall where the doctor’s body was found and said, “Several photos of walls breaking and bricks falling have emerged. Is it not an attempt to hide the evidence?”

They said, “Whoever conducts the investigation, be it CBI or judicial inquiry, we want those involved in the incident to be punished.”