As junior doctors in Kolkata continue their hunger strike demanding justice for Abhaya, a postgraduate intern who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College, the college's dark past has resurfaced with calls for a re-investigation into a 23-year-old suicide case.
Shantanu Biswas, the younger brother of Saumitra Biswas, a fourth-year MBBS student found dead in his hostel room in 2001, is seeking a fresh probe into what he alleges was a murder covered up as a suicide.
Saumitra's death, initially ruled a suicide, led to a murder investigation based on an FIR filed by his late mother, Sabita Biswas. Sabita accused two individuals, allegedly linked to the Students' Federation of India (SFI), of involvement in her son's death. Despite the investigation, the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence, leaving the family without closure. Now, Shantanu claims that had justice been served for his brother, recent tragedies like Abhaya's might have been avoided.
Abhaya, a 31-year-old postgraduate intern, was found dead on August 9 in the college's basement. Her body showed signs of sexual assault and strangulation. The prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested soon after. The case has sparked widespread outrage among the medical community, with healthcare professionals demanding not only justice for Abhaya but also better safety conditions in hospitals.
In a related development, Dr. Sandeep Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 14 for financial irregularities and alleged attempts to cover up Abhaya's murder. Despite ongoing talks with the West Bengal government, the protesting doctors have seen no resolution, fueling their indefinite hunger strike which began on October 5. The strike continues to gain momentum, highlighting concerns over the safety and working conditions of medical professionals across the state.