An Indian Police Volunteer Convicted of Rape and Murder of Junior Doctor in Kolkata
A police volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was convicted on Saturday of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, India. The crime, committed on August 9, sparked widespread outrage over the lack of safety for women in India.
The victim’s body was found in a classroom at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, and her death led to a nationwide outpouring of grief and protests by doctors and activists demanding justice for her and better security for women.
Roy, who maintained his innocence, was found guilty by a Kolkata court, with Judge Anirban Das saying that circumstantial evidence had proved the charges against him. The sentence, to be announced on Monday, could range from life in prison to the death penalty.
The victim’s parents expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation, claiming that the crime could not have been committed by a single man. “Our daughter could not have met such a horrific end by a single man,” her father said, vowing to continue to fight for justice until all culprits are brought to book.
Hundreds of police personnel were deployed outside the court, and doctors and activists chanted slogans in solidarity with the victim, pledging to continue protests until justice is served. India’s federal police, who investigated the case, had sought the death penalty for Roy, describing the crime as “rarest of rare”.
The investigation involved 128 witnesses, of whom 51 were examined during the trial, which was fast-tracked to conclude swiftly. The police also charged the officer heading the local police station and the then-head of the hospital with destruction of the crime scene and tampering with evidence.