Kolkata Rape Case: Bengal CM Mamata Blames CPIM, BJP For Vandalising RG Kar Hospital; 25 Held So Far

The parents of the deceased trainee doctor told the CBI that several interns and physicians from the hospital might be involved in the crime.

The CBI summoned a house staff member and two post-graduate trainees who were on duty with the doctor the night she was murdered.

The agency also escorted the former hospital principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, for questioning.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the opposition CPI(M) and the BJP of orchestrating vandalism at RG Kar hospital.

Kolkata Police has arrested 25 people for their alleged involvement in the vandalism, with Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal admitting that, despite adequate security, they were unprepared for the violence and were caught off-guard.

The HC's division bench led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam expressed disbelief that police intelligence failed to detect the gathering of nearly 7,000 people at the hospital in the early hours of Independence Day.

Banerjee led a protest rally from Moulali to Dorina Crossing in Kolkata on Friday, demanding justice for the deceased woman doctor.

The central government on Friday said heads of health institutions will have to file an FIR within six hours in case of an incident of violence against a healthcare worker on duty.

Uproar continues over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor who was found dead at the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in West Bengal's Kolkata last Friday, where miscreants carrying sticks, bricks and rods, vandalised the Emergency Ward, its nursing station and medicine store, besides a section of the Out Patients Department (OPD), amid a night protest in the city that began Wednesday against the incident.

Meanwhile, the protests have expanded beyond doctors in the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case as groups and parties such as The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) and the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association have also called for strikes and agitations.

The Indian Medical Association on Thursday night announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services from 6 am on August 17 to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and the subsequent vandalism at the facility that took place amid a night protest in the between Wednesday and Thursday.

Essential services will be maintained and casualty wards operational, the medical body said in a statement, adding that out-patient departments (OPD) will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing services.

"Subsequent to the brutal crime in R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata, and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day (Wednesday night), the Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday 17.08.2024 to 6 am Sunday 18.08.2024 for 24 hours," the statement said.

Massive vandalism was witnessed in the emergency, staffers' room, changing room for nurses and medicine store of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital during a protest in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Almost all the CCTV cameras were also broken, an official said.

A portion of the seminar hall, where the woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered, was vandalised and doors were damaged.

Thousands of women from all walks of life gathered across West Bengal at midnight on Wednesday to protest the brutal rape-murder of a doctor on duty at a Kolkata hospital last week.

The social media-driven protests termed 'Reclaim The Night' began at 11:55 pm, aligning with Independence Day celebrations, and took place in key areas across both small towns and big cities, including multiple locations in Kolkata

Amid the protest, a group of around 40 people entered the hospital and vandalised the emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store, while also damaging CCTV cameras and ransacking a stage where junior doctors had been demonstrating since August 9.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused opposition parties of being behind the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

CM Mamata Banerjee said she does not hold the students or doctors responsible for their protests and instead, she accused certain political parties of attempting to incite trouble.

"Police are looking into the matter. I don't have any complaints against students or agitating doctors. But there are certain political parties which are trying to foment trouble. If you go through the video, you will get to see what happened," the chief minister said.

Officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday visited the residence of the doctor who was raped and murdered at a Kolkata hospital, and spoke to her parents as a part of their investigation, an official said.

The investigators took note of the time they received the call from the hospital, informing them about the death of their daughter, he said.

The officers also asked them about their daughter's friends, and whether she complained of any problems at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where she was a postgraduate trainee doctor, he added.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday interrogated five doctors of the hospital, its former medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal (MSVP), principal and the head of the Chest Department where the victim's body was found, an official said.

The CBI also spoke to the officer-in-charge of the Tala police station, under the jurisdiction of which the hospital is located.

The investigators have sought details of Civic Volunteer Sanjay Roy's call detail record and mobile tower location, among others. He was arrested after the victim's body was found on Friday.

Representatives of Resident Doctor's Associations (RDAs), including that of AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College, have decided that all RDAs across Delhi will conduct a joint protest march on August 16 from 2 PM at Nirman Bhavan against the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case.

Kolkata is set for protests and rallies today, August 16, with BJP's women's wing holding a candlelight rally to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's residence demanding her resignation over the rape and murder of the trainee woman doctor and vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal today.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also likely to hit the streets today, demanding capital punishment for the accused in the trainee doctor's rape-murder case.

West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari wrote a letter to the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and the Director of CBI regarding the vandalism that took place at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and sought the deployment of CAPF to "prevent further destruction of evidence".

Nationwide outrage continues with expanding protests over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor who was found dead at the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in West Bengal's Kolkata last Friday.

Miscreants carrying sticks, bricks and rods, vandalised RG Kar Medical College & Hospital's Emergency Ward, its nursing station and medicine store, besides a section of the Out Patients Department (OPD), amid a night protest in the city that began Wednesday against the incident.

A protest that initially started with just doctors and health workers of Bengal, later expanded to those across the country and has now even grown further with political parties and universities joining in.

Here's a quick look at upcoming protests over the alleged RG Kar Medical College rape case:

• The Indian Medical Association has announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services from 6 am on August 17

• BJP's women's wing will hold a candlelight rally today to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence demanding her resignation

• The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal today

• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also likely to hit the streets today, demanding capital punishment for the accused

Father of deceased doctor in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-death case said, "It is not lawfully appropriate to give details on our conversation with the CBI. I can't give you details on the questioning that has been done in connection with this case. They have recorded our statement and taken it in writing..."

A CBI team on Thursday visited the victim's residence.

The father of the victim expressed gratitude to the people over the nationwide support and the protests that have been happening across the country and world.

"I consider everyone who is standing with us, as my sons and daughters...CBI has assured us that the accused will be arrested at the earliest and awarded strict punishment based on whatever we have told them...I have turned down the compensation. It will hurt my daughter if I accept money as compensation for her death. I want justice," he told news agency ANI.

A 12-hour general strike has been called by Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) SUCI (C) in West Bengal over the alleged Kolkata doctor rape and murder case.

Visuals from Siliguri

Kolkata Police on Friday said it has arrested 19 people over the vandalism of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital that took place in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday amid a protest by city residents.

Taking to social media Kolkata Police today said, "19 arrests so far in RG Kar hospital vandalism. Five of them were identified by social media feedback. If you recognise any of the suspects from our earlier posts, kindly inform us. Thank you for your support and trust." READ FULL STORY

Visuals from Siliguri where the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) SUCI (C) party have called for a 12-hour general strike over Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder incident.

Over 1,000 doctors at private and government hospitals in Goa will stay away from attending outpatient department (OPD) services for 24 hours from August 17 morning to protest the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee physician in Kolkata and seek speedy justice for her, it was announced on Thursday.

Indian Medical Association (Goa Branch) president Dr Sandesh Chodankar told news agency PTI that there will be shutdown of OPD services in private and government medical establishments in the state from 6 am on August 17 to 6 am on August 18.

IMA on Thursday night announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services from 6 am on August 17 to protest against the alleged rape and murder and the subsequent vandalism at the facility. Essential services will be maintained and casualty wards operational, the medical body said in a statement.

The Socialist Unity Centre of India - Communist (SUCI-Communist) on Friday blocked roads and took out rallies in various parts of West Bengal, as part of its 12-hour general strike to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata.

Carrying flags and posters, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) activists criticised the state government over its "failure" to ensure the safety and security of doctors.

"The vandalism that took place inside the RG Kar hospital proves that the state government is yet to learn its lessons from the murder of the woman doctor," an SUCI-C leader said.

Four doctors of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have been summoned by CBI Special Crime Branch in CGO complex, Salt Lake, Kolkata. CBI will interrogate these PGT (PG trainees) regarding what happened the night of the incident, CBI sources cited by news agency ANI said.

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case accused Sanjoy Roy was brought out of CBI Special Crime Branch in CGO complex in Kolkata. He was taken for medical examination.

Doctors and medical students across the country are holding protests against the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Dr Priyanka from Gandhi Hospital of Hyderabad said, "... I am from Kolkata myself... I have been speaking to my friends back home about the mob attacks on hostels with the intention of destroying evidence because they know the gravity of the situation. They know that we are united all across the country and they are trying their best to scare our fellow colleagues in Bengal. Our friends and colleagues in Bengal are spending sleepless nights because they are scared and even they don't know what going to happen next... Our fight will not end soon, it will continue and we will escalate it if needed..."

Apart from Hyderabad's Gandhi Hospital, protests are going on at Delhi's RML Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, Mumbai's Nair Hospital and several other medical establishments across the country.

Four PGT doctors of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital reached CBI Special Crime Branch at CGO complex, Salt Lake, Kolkata for questioning regarding what happened the night of the incident.

Doctors and medical students staged a protest at Gandhi Medical College of Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and called for a strike in solidarity with RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape and murder victim.

Calcutta High Court takes up matters on vandalism of #RGKarCollege campus which occurred on the night of August 14.

The Calcutta High Court chief justice told the state government the matters have been listed because of emails received due to vandalism in the hospital.

Hearing the RG Kar Medical College vandalism matter, Calcutta High Court said on Friday, "Normally the police always has an intelligence wing. Similar things happened on Hanuman Jayanti. If 7,000 people are to gather, it hard to believe the state police did not know. Why did you grant permission?

The state government told the court no permission was granted.

The state told the court there was a mob of around 7,000 people gathered at the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on the intervening night of August 14 and August 15 amid a protest by Kolkata residents. "The number of people suddenly swelled up. They broke open the barricades," the state told the court.

Calling the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital vandalism incident an "absolute failure of state machinery", the Calcutta High Court on Friday said the police should have had cordoned off the area when there was a big commotion taking place.

"You pass 144 CrPC orders for any reason, when so much commotion is going on, you should have cordoned the area." the Calcutta High Court said, adding that "7,000 people can’t come walking."

The advocate representing the state government said there was a police force present. The state government said 15 police personnel were injured, the DCP was seriously injured, police vehicles were damaged.

The High Court responded by saying, "They couldn’t protect their own men? Sorry state of affairs. How will these doctors work fearlessly?"

The Calcutta High Court, hearing the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital vandalism matter, asked the state government and police on Friday "What will happen if it is repeated".

"The issue is that if this thing which happened on 14th [August 14], what will happen if it is repeated? If police got injured and couldn’t stop the mob, the law and order situation had failed?" the Calcutta High Court said.

The state in response said that demonstrations happened all over Kolkata that night but violence only happened at the hospital.

The Calcutta High on Friday said the CBI is directed to proceed as deemed appropriate in the probe related to the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape and murder case of August 9.

"We direct those incharge of the hospital to narrate the state of affairs over there. The investigation team of the CBI shall also file an interim report regarding the investigation," the Calcutta HC said.

The Calcutta High Court on Friday asked the state government what was the urgency to conduct demolition work at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital where probe is underway over the alleged rape and murder case of a trainee doctor found dead at the seminar hall on August 9.

The state government justified saying the demolition work was not near the place of occurrence, adding that that had "nothing to do with what happened"

The court then said, "You go to any district court, no ladies washrooms. PwD does nothing! What was the need here."

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case: A team of CBI reached the CBI Special Crime Branch at CGO complex, Salt Lake, Kolkata with a high-accuracy 3D laser scanner for a digital blueprint of the place of incident.

Doctors across the country have been protesting against the rape-murder of resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. AIIMS Delhi doctor, Dr Kumar Kartikay says, "We want to peacefully put forward our demands. We demand a Central Protection Act for healthcare workers. Till we do not get a written assurance, we will continue our strike... We are expecting around 3000-5000 people at Nirman Bhawan today from all the medical colleges in Delhi... We will not step back or sit quietly till we get an assurance that action will be taken."

In the event of any violence against any healthcare worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

In a major move amid protests over the Kolkata doctor rape case, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday announced that Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of six hours in the event of any violence against any healthcare workers.

The MHA order comes close on the heels of the recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical Hospital, outrage over which have snowballed into nationwide protests by doctors and healthcare workers, who have been demanding a Central Protection Act. Kolkata Rape Case Updates

The MHA order said, "Recently it has been observed that violence has become common against doctors and other healthcare staff in government hospitals. A number of health workers suffer physical violence during the course of their duty. Many are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression."

"Most of this violence is done by either patient or patient's attendants," the order said.

In view of the above, the MHA said, "it is stated that in the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident." READ FULL STORY

The resident doctor’s indefinite strike intensified in Maharashtra on its fourth day on Friday, with their seniors joining the protest, disrupting services at government and civic hospitals and inconveniencing thousands of patients in the state.

Dr Pratik Debaje, president of Maharashtra State Association of Residential Doctors (Central-MARD) told news agency PTI that 6000-7000 senior resident doctors affiliated to the Maharashtra Association of Bonded Resident Doctors (MABRD) and the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) joined the strike on Friday.

“17,000-18,000 (resident) doctors in Maharashtra are on strike at present,” Debaje said.

In an address on Wednesday over the Kolkata rape and murder case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said she will take to the streets on Friday and demand that the CBI ensures that the case is solved by Sunday.

Demanding justice for the deceased doctor, CM Mamata had said, "I will personally take to the streets on Friday, and we demand that the CBI ensures that the case is solved by Sunday. Kolkata Police has already completed 90 per cent of the probe, and the culprits must be hanged."

A team of CBI, which is probing the doctor rape and murder case, reached the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where the alleged incident took place.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday alleged that its workers were prevented from holding a rally in Kolkata to protest against the death of a woman doctor in the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the city last week.

A stage that was set up at Shyambazar crossing in north Kolkata was dismantled by the police, a party leader said.

Several saffron party workers were rounded up and taken to central lock-up in Lalbazar police headquarters.

Siliguri BJP MLA and Chief Whip in the state assembly, Dr Sankar Ghosh said, "We have only one demand that Mamata [Banerjee] must resign. After observing all the incidents- from Kamduni, Park Street, Matigara, Chopra, Ariadaha, Kaliaganj, and Hanshkhali, it seems she has failed to run the government. After the incident of RG Kar, it is obvious that the CM tried to hide the crime scene from the media... Women are victimised time and again. The culprits are booked but not punished..."

On Kolkata doctor rape & murder, Union Minister and LJP chief Chirag Paswan said, "Mamata Banerjee's government and administration "have failed".

"The way thousands of anti-social elements entered to erase the pieces of evidence shows that there is someone who wants to save them. It is her government's responsibility that evidence is not tampered with. Instead of levelling allegations, the West Bengal CM should ensure that there is no tampering of evidence and extend support to the CBI team. Every person in the country is enraged," Paswan said.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for accusing the opposition parties of being behind the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital saying that there can be "no room for politics" on the rape and murder of the junior doctor.

Pradhan alleged that Banerjee's attempt to cover up, stifle dissent and shield perpetrators raises serious questions.

"There has been complete systemic failure in West Bengal time and again. But the blame lies on 'Bam and Ram'. Absolutely disgusting, shameful and reprehensible statement from Mamata Didi. The day is not far when Mamata Didi will even blame aliens and extraterrestrials for her misrule," Pradhan wrote in a post on X.

On Kolkata doctor rape and murder case and the vandalism at the RG Kar medical college and hospital, city police said on Friday that about 25 people have been arrested so far.

Photographs of nine people have already been matched and on interrogating these people, we have found out some more people who may have accompanied them, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal said at a press conference.

"I wanted to appeal to all of you and all the citizens of Kolkata that whatever vandalism has happened, anybody who is responsible we’ll arrest them. Let there be no doubt as far as this is concerned,” he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken out a rally against the incident of rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata She is demanding justice for the victim and capital punishment for the accused.

West Bengal Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal says, "Far too many rumours are floating which have no basis, and based on them, a lot of so-called experts are creating narratives...The case has now gone to the CBI and let's have faith in the agency. In the very little time we had, our officers tried to do everything possible... We are liable for legal action if anyone in our team has done anything wrong... Why is rumour-mongering going on even now... It is wrong that we have informed the victim's family that she committed suicide. It is wrong that 150 grams of semen was found in her body..."

He added, "Our officers are cooperating with the CBI with anything that they need... I dont see why it is being spread that we wanted to hush up the matter and finish it as... Videography was done and all evidence was collected in the presence of family and friends... A three-member team conducted the postmortem and it is on video... CBI has access to the postmortem video... There is no doubt as far as transparency is concerned."

Banerjee addresses an audience on Tuesday after she led a protest rally in Kolkata she said, "We want truth to come out, but some quarters peddling lies to mislead people." Continuing to blame the opposition of misleading people she said, "Nexus of Left, BJP should be exposed."

"Attempts being made to hide truth by circulating fake news on social media," she added.

Banerjee was accompanied by several women on the stage and the rally including the women party MLAs who also addressed the crowd.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) demands central law and to declare the hospitals as safe zones with mandatory security entitlements.

IMA has declared 24-hour withdrawal of services by all the modern medicine doctors of the country irrespective of the sector and place of work. Emergencies and casualties will function. No OPDs. No elective surgeries. The withdrawal commences at 6 am on Saturday 17th August 2024 and ends at 6 am on Sunday 18th August 2024.

Kolkata Police detained West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday during his protest against RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder incident.

Addressing a crowd in Kolkata after a rally, Mamata Banerjee said, "I know that CPM and BJP vandalised RG Kar Medical College and Hospital...They went there at 12-1 am in the night, the video shows that CPM took the DYFI flag and BJP took the national flag. They have misused the national flag, they should be punished. How many teams did BJP and CPM send when the incident happened in Manipur? How many teams were sent to Hathras, Unnao?... CPM and BJP should not threaten me, we have not come without contesting elections..."

Six more accused were arrested in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital on Wednesday night. They were produced in Sealdah Court on Tuesday. A total of 25 have been arrested in the case.

Academic activities at the Jadavpur University were affected on Friday as associations of professors and students called for a day-long strike in protest against the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

They also demanded the arrest of all those involved in the alleged rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at the state-run hospital last week.

The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) called for a day-long ceasework and a two-hour sit-in at the administrative building, denouncing any attempt to conceal evidence related to the rape and murder of the doctor.

Former Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday addressed the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case while posing several questions against the Bengal government, she said, "The question arises did no one hear the screams of that woman on that floor? It has also come to light from media reports that 150 mg of semen was found in that woman. Is this the work of one rapist? Was it possible that one person was raping that woman, breaking her legs, breaking her hands, gouging out her eyes, hitting her chest, hitting her stomach, and that woman was screaming and no one heard her? And this entire act was committed by one rapist alone? Who is the one because of whom the rapist was assured in the hospital that he could return home after committing the rape? Who is the one who continued the renovation on the same floor of the hospital even after such a heinous crime? What action has been taken so far against the officer in the police who called the parents of this woman and told them that the girl had committed suicide? Who instructed that officer to tell the girl's parents that it was a suicide? If that officer is his superior officer, then how did he reach this conclusion?..."

She also said, "... Rapists are carefree but the protestors are being attacked by a mob. How is it possible that a group of hooligans are in the state and the police do not know about it? How is it possible that they enter and vandalise the hospital and media reports say that they vandalise those that could be part of the evidence?...The question is will the girl get justice or not?"

The health ministry's decision to form a panel for deliberating on a central law to protect healthcare workers is "too little and too late" as it just needs political will to bring a legislation on the matter, IMA chief Dr R V Asokan said on Friday.

"There is a thinking in the government to refer it to an expert committee to look at the possibility of a bill, but that will be too little and too late. Because, everything is in place. It only needs political will to push the button," Asokan said.

Hundreds of resident doctors struck work on Friday at government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medico and vandalism at a health facility in Kolkata, hitting medical services across the state.

The National Commission of Women (NCW) inquiry committee on Friday uncovered lapses in police investigation and security and infrastructure of the hospital in the gruesome rape and murder case of a trainee doctor.

"The questioning of the former Principal, who resigned after the incident, remains incomplete. The inquiry committee urges a thorough and expedited investigation," the two-member panel stated in its report.

"The site where the deceased was allegedly raped and murdered is undergoing sudden renovation, potentially leading to tempering with the evidence. The crime scene should have been sealed immediately by the police," it added. 

BJP leader Smriti Irani said, "Rapists are carefree but the protestors are being attacked by a mob. How is it possible that a group of hooligans are in the state and the police do not know about it? How is it possible that they enter and vandalise the hospital and media reports say that they vandalise those that could be part of the evidence? The question is…will the girl get justice or not?" she said.

"Who is the one who continued the renovation on the same floor of the hospital even after such a heinous crime? What action has been taken so far against the officer in the police who called the parents of this woman and told them that the girl had committed suicide? Who instructed that officer to tell the girl's parents that it was a suicide? If that officer is his superior officer, then how did he reach this conclusion?..."

West Bengal Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal urged people not to believe in "rumours" and "narratives" created by some people regarding the case.

The official said, "A three-member team conducted the postmortem and it is on video. The CBI has access to the postmortem video. There is no doubt as far as transparency is concerned."

The Police Commissioner denied rumours that stated that the police had informed the victim's family that she had committed suicide and that 150 grams of semen were found in the body of the deceased.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy on Friday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding enactment of a stringent central law to prevent atrocities against women.

Roy, who had sat on a dharna on August 14 in solidarity with a midnight protest by women on the issue of the rape-murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor in RG Kar hospital here, said a stringent central Act is imperative to ensure safety of women in public and private places, including hospitals, educational institutions, asylums, shopping malls, public transport, trams, government-semi government, private workplaces and other establishments.

"Any complaint for incidents of sexual harassment, rape, rape with murder shall be statutorily recorded immediately after the incident and must be immediately reported to the nearest police station failing which the police officer concerned/other authorities must be suspended immediately," the senior TMC MP and lawyer said in the letter.