The mother of a 31-year-old junior doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to suppress protests against the crime. She claimed that the Kolkata police did not properly investigate the incident. Speaking from her home in North 24 Parganas district, the grieving mother said, Banerjee promised swift arrests, but so far, only one person has been detained. I believe more people at the hospital are involved. The chief minister is trying to stifle the protests, which is why the police enforced prohibitory orders today.Prohibitory orders and public outrageHer comments referred to the police imposing restrictions on gatherings of four or more people within 200 meters of Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. This action led to the abandonment of a Durand Cup football match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clubs on Sunday afternoon. The police explained that they could not provide adequate security due to the heavy deployment of forces at various protest sites across the city.The victims mother further accused the Kolkata police of trying to close the investigation quickly. The police did not conduct a proper investigation. They did not cooperate with us. Their focus was on closing the case as soon as possible, rushing the autopsy, and cremating the body, she added.High court orders CBI probeIn response to these concerns, the Kolkata High Courts division bench, led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the case from the Kolkata Police on August 13. A 31-year-old civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, has been arrested in connection with the case.Community and nationwide protestsThe brutal crime has shocked Kolkata and sparked widespread protests across the country. Doctors have staged walkouts, demanding safer working conditions. On Sunday, the CBI continued its investigation at RG Kar hospital, questioning several individuals, including Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college who was transferred after the incident.The victims mother recounted the horrifying moments when the hospital first informed the family of her daughters death. Initially, they were told that she had died by suicide, but when they finally saw her body, it was evident she had been brutally murdered.Protests have paralysed traffic across Kolkata, with demonstrators—including fans of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clubs—gathering in unity to demand justice. Despite attempts by the police to disperse the crowds, protests continued into the evening, fueled by public outrage and support from various sectors, including the Bengali film industry.
