KOLKATA: A court in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, initiated the trial of a police volunteer, Sanjay Roy, accused of raping and murdering a junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The woman’s body was discovered within a classroom on August 9, prompting federal police to arrest Roy.
Last week, charges were formally issued against Roy, who has declared his innocence and claimed he was being framed, as local media outlets reported. This high-profile case has once again brought to the forefront issues of women’s safety in India, a topic of national concern since the infamous 2012 New Delhi bus rape and murder.
The case also casts a spotlight on the substandard infrastructure and security measures at state-run hospitals in India, which often lack essential security features such as CCTV cameras and sufficient security staffing.
The trial is expected to be thorough, with about 128 witnesses slated to testify, according to court sources. Proceedings will be conducted daily in an effort to fast-track the case, though they will be closed to the public.
On the first day of the trial, the victim’s father was among those who provided testimony. In a related development, the federal police have also arrested the officer in charge of the local police station and the hospital superintendent. They face charges related to the alleged tampering with evidence and financial irregularities.
Responding to protests and public outcry, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with demonstrators last month, agreeing to most of their demands for reforms, as confirmed by the doctors involved. They, however, vowed to continue monitoring progress on these promises to ensure tangible changes are implemented.
