Brutal Rape and Murder of an On-Duty Trainee Doctor Sparks Outrage Across India

Vivek Kumar 16 अगस्त 2024 English News

Kolkata, On August 9th, 2024, a harrowing incident shook the Indian medical community and the nation at large. A young doctor, on a 36-hour duty at a Kolkata hospital, was brutally raped and murdered within the hospital premises. The crime has since triggered widespread outrage, protests, and calls for justice.

Timeline of Events of Moumtia Debnath:

  • The Trainee doctor, exhausted after hours of duty, had dinner at 2 AM with junior interns. She then decided to rest for a while in the seminar room of the hospital.
  • At 11:30 AM the next morning, the doctor’s parents received a call stating their daughter was ill. When they pressed for more details, the police cryptically responded, “We are not doctors, we do not know.”
  • Upon reaching the hospital, the parents were met by police officers who informed them that their daughter had committed suicide. They were made to wait for three agonizing hours before being allowed to see her body.
  • The parents’ worst fears were realized when they finally saw their daughter’s body. Guarded by other doctors who refused to leave, they discovered grave injuries. Her body was half-naked, blood streaming from her eyes, glass shards crushed into her eyes, (etc). Despite these horrific injuries, the police registered the case as an unnatural death, categorizing it as suicide.
  • The primary inquest report leaked, revealing the extent of the doctor’s injuries, which were far too severe to be mistaken for a suicide. This led to widespread outrage across West Bengal and the entire Indian medical community.
  • The parents were allegedly pressured to cremate their daughter’s body quickly.
  • Following the cremation, medical students and doctors across India launched elective shutdowns of medical services, demanding safety in the workplace and justice for the fallen doctor.
  • A suspect was arrested, and his violent history was made public by local law enforcement. However, the victim’s colleagues and fellows raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation, pointing to irregularities in the forensic report.
  • The case was brought before the High Court, where it was noted that the extent of the doctor’s injuries would require “superhuman strength” to inflict. This raised suspicions of multiple suspects being involved. The principal of the institution, Sandip Ghosh, resigned but was controversially reassigned to another prestigious medical college within hours.
  • The High Court, losing faith in the state government and local law enforcement, ordered the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Court also demanded that the principal be placed on indefinite leave and that his statement be recorded immediately.
  • As the CBI prepared to take over the investigation, the local government and the college initiated “renovations” within 20 meters of the crime scene, citing the creation of new restrooms. This was met with resistance from students, and the work was halted.
  • Women across West Bengal organized a “Reclaim the Night” candlelight vigil on August 15th, India’s Independence Day, seeking justice for the victim. However, the peaceful vigil was violently disrupted by a mob. The police were reportedly absent during the attack, which resulted in vandalism of the hospital and injuries to doctors and police personnel alike.
  • Despite the mob’s destruction, no arrests have been made. The Police Commissioner, Mr. Goyal, who had earlier advised the victim’s parents not to pursue the case, arrived at the scene only to blame the media and online discussions for the unrest.

News by Hindi Patrika