Will hang accused, if needed: Mamata Banerjee on doctor's murder

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the public outcry following the death of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. On Saturday, she declared that the accused would face the death penalty if necessary and confirmed that the case would be fast-tracked in the legal system.

The young doctor was discovered dead inside the hospital's seminar hall on Friday, prompting junior doctors to protest and demand justice. Banerjee described the incident as "unfortunate" and "despicable," expressing her personal sense of loss and solidarity with the doctors' demands for justice.

Promises of immediate justice

Banerjee assured that the arrested suspect, who was employed at the hospital, would face severe consequences. "Firstly, the incident is unfortunate and despicable. It feels like a personal loss to me. Their (doctors') anger and demand are justified. I support it. Police have also accepted their demands," she stated. "I have directed the case to be taken to a fast-track court. If needed, the accused will be hanged. But they should be given the strictest punishment," she emphasized.

Encouragement to trust investigation

In response to ongoing protests, Banerjee urged the medical professionals to continue treating patients while maintaining their demonstrations. She also stated that doctors could seek other law enforcement agencies if they doubted the state administration, highlighting her commitment to transparency: "For those who are protesting if they feel that they don't have faith in the state administration, they can approach any other law enforcement agency. I have no issue with that. We want proper and thorough investigation and stringent punishment for the culprits."

Details of investigation

The autopsy report, which detailed signs of sexual assault and murder, has added urgency to the investigation. According to the report, the victim sustained injuries, including bleeding from her private parts and other parts of her body.

The Kolkata Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), involving members from the homicide department, to thoroughly investigate the crime. The police arrested a suspect, who had unrestricted access to various hospital departments, after examining CCTV footage. "We have arrested one person who is an outsider. His activities are quite suspicious, and he seems to be directly involved in the crime," a police official informed PTI.