Kolkata doctor murder: CISF team at RG Kar Medical College; ex-principal Dr Ghosh may face lie detector test

Kolkata doctor murder: A team of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel arrived at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court's directive to deploy central forces at the hospital.

 RG Kar Medical College and Hospital  has ben at the epicentre of large-scale protests sparked by the gruesome sexual assault and murder of a 31-year-old woman, a trainee doctor, on August 9. The horrific incident has ignited nationwide outrage, leading to demands for enhanced security and better working conditions for medical professionals.

The Supreme Court, in a suo motu response to the incident, constituted a 10-member National Task Force to address the issue of violence against medical professionals. This task force, which includes prominent figures such as Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, has been tasked with providing recommendations on preventing such violence and ensuring safe working conditions for healthcare workers across the country. The task force is expected to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. In its directive, the apex court emphasised the need for an action plan that would also focus on preventing gender-based violence and securing dignified working spaces for interns, residents, and non-resident doctors.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of CISF K Pratap Singh who is overseeing the deployment at RG Kar Medical College, stated, "We have come here for some assignments. Let us do our job, which has been mandated by the higher authorities." 

In a related development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has taken over the probe into the trainee doctor's  sexual assault and murder, is considering conducting a lie detector test on Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College. Dr. Ghosh resigned from his position amid the ongoing protests and has been questioned by the CBI multiple times. According to a CBI official, there have been discrepancies in Dr Ghosh's responses during the interrogation, prompting the agency to mull over the possibility of a polygraph test to further verify his statements.

The Supreme Court has also directed the CBI to submit a status report on the ongoing investigation into the sexual assault case. The West Bengal Government has also been asked to provide a status report on the mob attack that occurred at RG Kar hospital on August 14, when protesters vandalised the hospital campus. This incident added fuel to the already intense protests, resulting in security forces having to disperse the crowd.

The tragic incident and the subsequent events have highlighted the urgent need for systemic changes in the safety protocols for medical professionals. As the nation watches, the actions taken by the Supreme Court, CISF, and CBI will play a crucial role in addressing the concerns of the medical community and ensuring justice for the victim.