The newly formed student group, The Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, is set to lead a protest march to the state secretariat “Nabanna” in Kolkata today. The demonstration is aimed at demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in response to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R G Kar Hospital.
The Kolkata police have labeled the march as “illegal” and imposed restrictions, banning gatherings of more than five people in the area. Political parties CPI(M) and Congress have chosen not to participate in the protest, citing concerns over the affiliations of some of the organizers.
In a related development, Union Minister Annapurna Devi criticized the state government for its handling of sexual assault cases. She pointed out that, as of June, only six Fast Track Special Courts were operational in West Bengal, despite a significant backlog in cases under the POCSO Act and other rape cases. Devi accused the TMC-led state government of failing to take adequate action.
Regarding the investigation into the case, there have been allegations of evidence destruction following the discovery of the victim’s body on August 9. Opposition leaders have raised concerns, but Kolkata police have denied these claims. The CBI has named Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in an FIR concerning alleged financial irregularities during his tenure. The results of a polygraph test on the prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, are awaited and are expected to provide crucial insights into whether the crime involved multiple perpetrators or was committed by a single individual.
