RG Kar: Doctors, political parties stage protest in Kolkata after suspects get bail in rape case

Multiple protests occurred in Kolkata on Saturday following the release on bail of two key suspects in the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar hospital. The Left parties and Congress organized rallies, criticizing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for what they termed a "failure" to deliver justice. They also alleged a connection between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP-led central government.

Congress members marched from Rabindra Sadan to the CBI office at Nizam Palace, protesting the agency's alleged inability to file charges. Police intervened when protesters attempted to enter the building, leading to a brief confrontation. Protesters chanted slogans such as "We demand justice" and "Bichar Chai Tilottoma."

The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF) also rallied, marching from Karunamayee to the CBI office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake. They protested the perceived delay in charging those involved in the doctor's death, which occurred on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The victim’s parents participated in the rally. Her mother stated, \"We will fight for justice, and it is our right."

WBJDF representatives met with a CBI official, delivering a memorandum urging a faster investigation. According to one doctor present, the CBI representative said the trial was ongoing and the agency was working towards a comprehensive chargesheet. The representative reportedly assured them that bail did not exempt the suspects from trial, but the doctors expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation's pace.

Other groups, including Abhaya Manch, SUCI (Communist), and the Students' Federation of India (SFI), held separate rallies across the city. Some protesters carried signs stating, "If the system has failed, we will make it function to deliver justice." Minor scuffles with police occurred during some demonstrations.

The bail was granted Friday by the Sealdah court to Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, and Abhijit Mondal, former officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station. The CBI had not filed charges within the required 90-day period.

Trinamool Congress leader Firhad Hakim responded to the protests, suggesting that those seeking justice should ask for the investigation to be handled by the state police. He stated, "The state police would have ensured the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. "

Police had managed to arrest the key accused within 24 hours of the crime. If those demanding justice are serious and not politicising the issue to target the Mamata Banerjee government, they should support the state police.