The rape and murder case involving a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata has sparked ongoing protests in West Bengal. On Friday (September 6), the BJP intensified its protests by organizing a statewide “chakka jam” (road blockade) to demand justice and the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
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Key Points from the Protests:
- Statewide Chakka Jam: BJP workers organized road blockades in Kolkata and several districts. They blocked major roads for an hour, burning tires and holding signs demanding justice for the victim and Mamata Banerjee’s resignation. Areas like Shyambazar, Lake Town, VIP Road, Salt Lake, Karunamoyee, Behala, and Rajpur were affected.
- Allegations Against Police: BJP leaders accused Kolkata police of destroying evidence and pressuring the victim’s family. They alleged that authorities tried to hasten the victim’s funeral and offered bribes to silence the family about the circumstances of her death.
- ED Detains Associate: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Prasun Chatterjee, a close associate of former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandeep Ghosh, after a 7-hour raid at Chatterjee’s home in Subhashgram, Kolkata. The raid is part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities during Ghosh’s tenure.
- Raids on Ghosh’s Properties: The ED conducted searches at Ghosh’s residences in Kolkata, as well as in Belghoria and Howrah. These raids are linked to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
- Suspicion About Victim: Former Deputy Superintendent Dr. Akhtar Ali suggested that the victim might have known about the financial irregularities during Ghosh’s tenure and was murdered to prevent her from revealing this information.
- Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court rejected Sandeep Ghosh’s petition to join the public interest litigation related to financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. The court stated that Ghosh, as an accused, had no legal right to intervene in the petition.
- TMC Criticism: TMC leader Derek O’Brien questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) about when it would file charges and prosecute the accused in the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case.
These events highlight the intense political and legal responses to the ongoing investigation and public outrage over the case.