Will Our Daughter Get Justice? Heartbroken Parents of RG Kar Victim Await Closure a Year After Tragic Incident
Nearly a year after the tragic rape and murder of a young doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, her grieving parents continue to seek justice as their pain deepens. The family, feeling disillusioned with law enforcement, now places their hopes solely in the judiciary. “We have lost all faith in the police and the CBI. For reasons best known to them, the CBI seems compromised,” her father expressed, criticising their reliance on information from the Kolkata Police.
The 26-year-old postgraduate trainee’s lifeless body was discovered on August 9, inside a locked seminar room in the hospital’s Chest Medicine Department. The brutality of her injuries shocked the community, leading to widespread protests featuring students, medical professionals, and activists. The family highlights that a year later, justice remains elusive. “It wasn’t just a murder; it was a message that even the brightest women aren’t safe, not even in a hospital,” the father stated.
Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, has been sentenced to life in prison for the heinous crime, but the victim’s family and various rights activists argue that the investigation is far from complete. Her mother noted, “From day one, we have believed more than one person was involved. She was a strong girl; it’s hard to believe that one man could have overpowered her in such a secure environment.” The family alleges systematic attempts to destroy evidence, stating, “Our daughter’s body was cremated before other bodies at the crematorium. Why the urgency?”
There have been additional arrests, including RG Kar Medical College’s principal Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal, former officer-in-charge of Tala police station, who faces accusations of misleading the probe. However, Mondal was released on bail due to the CBI’s failure to file a charge sheet within the required timeframe. “We were foolish to trust the CBI,” her father lamented. “They merely regurgitated what the Kolkata Police provided-no new names, no new arrests, no answers.”
The family underscores concerns raised by the Supreme Court regarding the handling of the case. “These questions remain unanswered, and all the CBI can say is that the investigation is ongoing. That’s insufficient,” he asserted. His wife added, “How can a rape and murder occur inside a locked government hospital room without powerful people being involved?”
The couple feels that the pursuit of justice has devolved into a farce. “What we received wasn’t justice; it was a mockery,” her father said. He expressed frustration at the slow progress. “If there’s a larger conspiracy, why has it taken a year to file a supplementary charge sheet? They will drag this out for years until we’re gone,” he warned.
Citing troubling trends in recent cases, he pointed to the Kasba Law College gang rape incident, linking the accused to the ruling Trinamool Congress, and lamented the lack of changes despite public outcry. “Our daughter wanted to help the poor, and now her dreams remain locked away,” he reflected.
Despite the waning public attention, the family remains resolute. They plan protests on August 9 to mark the incident’s anniversary, aiming to reignite public support. A forum, ‘Abhaya Mancha,’ will observe Raksha Bandhan that day, culminating in a ‘Reclaim the Night’ march on August 14. When asked what justice would mean for them, her father replied, “Justice means truth and accountability for everyone involved. It’s about restoring the dignity they tried to erase. We seek the truth before we die.”
“Our only hope lies in the judiciary… we trust it won’t let us down,” he concluded.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/will-our-daughter-get-justice-rg-kar-victims-parents-wait-in-pain-year-after-incident/article69891939.ece
Category : Kolkata
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Publish Date: 2025-08-04 08:08:00
