At Sodpur train station, posters demanding justice are a common sight, displayed on shopfronts and walls. An auto driver mentions that many people visit daily to express empathy and solidarity with the victim’s family.
Sodpur, located north of Kolkata, is where the young trainee doctor lived. On August 9, she was found brutally gang-raped and murdered at her workplace, R.G. Kar Hospital. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with questions raised about possible institutional involvement.
The sorrow in the neighborhood where the doctor lived is palpable. Police and reporters surround her house.
Speaking to The Wire, the doctor’s father and aunt (the wife of her father’s brother) expressed their deep grief and concerns.
“People from the department [the Chest Medicine Department at R.G. Kar, where she worked] are certainly involved in this. We believe there are multiple layers of involvement,” the father told The Wire.
He also mentioned that no one from the department has contacted the family since the incident.
“It’s been eight or nine days, and no one from the department has reached out to us. Who was responsible for my daughter’s safety? On the day she died, the principal told me, ‘You need to come here [to his room] to talk to me,’” he added.
‘We Had to Wait for Three Hours’
The family shared that despite repeated pleas, they were not allowed to see their daughter’s body for nearly three hours after being informed of her death.
“We had to wait three hours to see the body of our only daughter. I begged on my knees just to see her face one last time. I promised not to interfere with any investigation, but they still refused,” the mother said.
The father questioned why the department had not cooperated with the family until now.
“What stopped them? How could anyone from outside know my daughter was in that room? They haven’t even shown us basic solidarity,” he added.
Amid significant lapses in the Kolkata Police’s investigation, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13. The family had filed a petition before the court.
On August 16, the CBI questioned Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college.
“The case is moving forward slowly but steadily. We must trust that justice will be served,” the father said.
He also expressed his emotions regarding the protests.
“All the doctors and others demanding justice for my daughter… they are all my children. I have lost one, but now I have thousands standing with me. I am speechless. Their efforts don’t need thanks; they are my own sons and daughters,” he added.
“People from all over the world are standing by us. This gives us hope that justice will prevail. I demand the strictest punishment for those responsible,” the father said.
The family described the vandalism at the hospital on the night of August 15 as “horrific” and kept a close watch through news channels.
‘She Never Wanted Us to Worry’
The mother of the deceased doctor tried to maintain her composure, recalling her daughter’s dedication to her duties. “She never mentioned feeling unsafe, perhaps because she didn’t want us to worry,” she said.
The mother added that the doctor had been excited about the upcoming Durga Puja festivities, which had been celebrated at their home for the past two years.
The aunt remembered her niece’s studious nature and ambition. “She bought a car just three or four months ago and drove to work. She dreamed of becoming a gold medalist in MD. She was so brilliant that she got selected for both engineering and medicine,” the aunt shared.
The aunt also recalled that the doctor last spoke to her mother at 11:15 pm on August 8. “She said she had ordered food for the night and reminded her mother to take her medicines before sleeping. On August 9, at 10:53 am, her mother received a call from the Assistant Superintendent, who said, ‘Your daughter is unwell. Please come,’ and then disconnected. When her mother called back, she was told, ‘Am I a doctor? We are taking her to the doctor; the doctor will tell you.’ Later, they informed her that her daughter had committed suicide.”
One of the doctor’s friends also spoke to The Wire and remembered her as someone with big dreams. “She provided free consultations to many patients. The ongoing protest isn’t just for her; it’s for all of us. We deserve justice.”
The demand for justice echoes throughout the community. A second-year college student waiting at Sodpur station said, “This isn’t just one family’s fight; it’s ours. Such outrage and the power of the common man cannot go unnoticed.”