Amidst raging protests over the rape and murder of a doctor at the R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, the victim’s parents and family members, who joined protests at the hospital on Wednesday (September 4, 2024) night, alleged that the police had offered them money even as the body of their daughter was lying at home.
“The police offered us money when the body of our daughter was lying at home. Is this the humanity of the police,” the aunt of the victim told reporters at the hospital on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, the deceased’s father said the Divisional Commissioner of Kolkata Police, North, had entered their house and offered money. “I told him that my daughter worked harder to become a doctor than he had to become an IPS officer,” the father said.
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The parents of the victim had refused any compensation from the State government and said they wanted justice. They have said that if they took money, their daughter would not be in peace.
The parents have alleged that the police tried to “hush up the crime and wanted the cremation to be held as early as possible”. The father said hundreds of police personnel were deployed at his house and at the cremation ground but they left soon after the final rites of his daughter.
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While the police did not react to the allegations, the Trinamool Congress said that, in an earlier video, the family had refuted allegations of money being offered.
“Another video has appeared in public domain where the parents stated that claims of offering money are lies, and they only wanted justice for their daughter. We cannot imagine the pain of the grieving parents. The incident is extremely unfortunate and saddening, and we have all been demanding justice for the victim,” said State Minister Sashi Panja.
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The parents said they were “under pressure” to record the video since they were told that “upsetting” the police will not help them get justice. Subarna Goswami, a doctor, had first raised allegations of police offering money after meeting family members of the victim.
The Kolkata Police has been facing the heat over the investigation and its inaction during the mob attack at the hospital on August 14 midnight. Protesting resident doctors have been demanding the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. A delegation of doctors had met the police officer and handed him over a deputation seeking his resignation.
Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal,?Suvendu?Adhikari, on Thursday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu requesting the withdrawal of the President’s Police Medal and the Police Medal awarded to Mr. Goyal.
In a related development, the West Bengal government suspended two doctors, Birupakhya Biswas and Avik De, who are considered close to former principal of the R. G. Kar hospital Sandip Ghosh. Dr. Ghosh has been arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities at the hospital.
Published - September 05, 2024 10:01 am IST
