Kolkata’s trainee doctor murder case comes to an end after months of protests. For raping and killing a trainee doctor, the court sentenced a police volunteer to life imprisonment on Monday. Judge Anirban Das denied the prosecution’s request for the death penalty, stating that the crime was not among the “rarest-of-rare.”
The victim’s body was discovered in a classroom at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on the 9th of August, triggering national outrage. Doctors across Kolkata staged week-long protests demanding justice for the victim and improved security measures in public hospitals.
Sanjay Roy, the convicted police volunteer, was found guilty on Saturday based on circumstantial evidence presented during the trial. While maintaining his innocence and alleging a conspiracy, Roy requested clemency.
Quoting 128 witnesses from their investigation, the federal police said the crime was severe enough to merit the death penalty. Roy was sentenced to life in prison for both rape and murder after Judge Das rejected the death penalty.
The victims’ grieving parents attended Monday’s court proceeding, expressing dissatisfaction with the investigation and suspecting additional individuals’ involvement. Their lawyer, Amartya Dey, emphasized the parents’ demand for harsher punishment and accountability for what they referred to as a “larger conspiracy.”
Meanwhile, security measures were heightened, with numerous police officers stationed in the packed courtroom. The fast-tracked trial began in November, with 52 witnesses examined in a courtroom closed to the public.
Protests from medical professionals and public outcry continue demanding further investigation and enhanced protections for women. Kolkata’s trainee doctor murder case remains a stark reminder of the safety challenge.
