Social media was abuzz after the horrific murder of Trainee Doctor Moumita Debnath, who was brutally killed at her workplace. The brutality of the incident has led to widespread protests by women across India, demanding justice for the young doctor.
A Routine Night Turns Tragic
On the night of August 8th, 31-year-old Trainee Doctor Moumita Debnath had just completed her duties after working for 36 hours straight. After finishing her night shift, she had dinner with her fellow on-duty doctors at 2 a.m. Exhausted, she decided to rest in the doctor’s rest room, used by hospital staff who work long hours.
The Morning After: A Shocking Discovery
The next morning, August 9th, Assistant Superintendent Dwaipayan Biswas informed Moumita’s family that their daughter had died by suicide. However, when the family arrived at the hospital, they were forced to wait outside for three hours and were not allowed to see her body. When they were finally permitted to see their daughter, they were shocked to find her body lying exposed, with her legs positioned at a 90-degree angle, indicating severe pelvic bone injuries.
Autopsy Revelations: Evidence of Brutality
The initial autopsy report revealed horrifying details. Moumita Debnath had been raped and strangled to death. Her hyoid bone (neck bone) was broken, she had cuts on her lips, a fractured pelvis, bleeding from the mouth, damage and bleeding in both eyes, injuries to her abdomen and left leg, a broken ring finger, and hundreds of bite marks all over her body. Additionally, she had severe injuries to her abdomen and bleeding in her private parts. Her legs were also found in a 90-degree angle position, a sign of the extreme brutality she endured.
Multiple Perpetrators Suspected
According to social media sources, it is understood that Moumita’s death allegedly involved 18 to 20 men. Disturbingly, one of the suspects was a female doctor who was her friend. Despite the clear evidence of murder, a suicide theory was initially developed. The intentions behind this narrative are currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Criticism of Authorities and Delayed Justice
On August 22, the Supreme Court criticized the police and hospital management for their negligence. The court emphasized that an FIR should have been filed immediately and pointed out the delay in documenting the death. The police, however, denied the claims of gang rape, and the hospital did not take the matter seriously, only filing a report after the situation had escalated. The victim’s parents also expressed their lack of trust in the Kolkata police, fearing that the investigation into their daughter’s murder would not be conducted properly and that the culprits would go unpunished.
Destruction of Evidence and Involvement of Powerful Individuals
On the night of August 15th, around 7,000 people reportedly went to the crime scene to destroy and erase evidence. This large-scale destruction of evidence has led to suspicions of involvement by highly powerful individuals. The police seemed unable to prevent this, leaving the public disappointed. As a result, the High Court also criticized Bengal’s Minister of State Affairs, Mamata Banerjee, and the state police for failing to control the situation, especially when the public could easily access the crime scene.
High Court Orders CBI Investigation
On August 13th, the Kolkata High Court ordered the state police to hand over the case to the CBI due to dissatisfaction with the investigation. Sanjay Roy, a Civic Assistant, was remanded by the police after his earphones were found next to Moumita’s body. Sanjay reportedly confessed to the crime and even challenged the authorities to sentence him to death. It is said that the suspect, who was a police volunteer, had access to the entire healthcare center and was previously stationed at the police post near the medical college. He had a criminal record of wife abuse and had been married four times.
Allegations of Corruption and Criminal Activities
The incident has also shed light on various criminal activities within the hospital, including scams, corruption, the illegal sale of medical waste, and involvement in a drug racket. Allegations of organ trafficking and a sex-drug racket have also surfaced. A recent report by Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent at the hospital, has leveled serious accusations against college officials, including the principal, Sandeep Ghosh. The claims involve unauthorized leasing of government property, favoritism in hiring, awarding contracts to unqualified entities, demanding a 20% commission, and participating in an illegal cross-border medical waste recycling operation.
Nationwide Protests and Outcry for Justice
After news of Moumita’s death spread, many women across India took to the streets in large-scale protests. These protests were carried out because this case proved that Indian women are in an unsafe situation. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) also staged protests nationwide, with doctors taking to the streets and not attending work for 24 hours, demanding increased security in hospitals, especially for female doctors.
Ongoing Investigation and Hope for Justice
A polygraph test will be conducted on six individuals, including the accused Sanjay Roy, the former college principal, Sandeep Ghosh, and four doctors who had dinner with the victim on the night of August 8th. On August 23rd, the CBI presented Sanjay Roy in Sealdah’s Special Court, where the court ordered his judicial custody for 14 days. During the hearing, Sanjay agreed to undergo the polygraph test.
Continuing Strikes and a Call for Action
Doctors in Kolkata continue their strike on the 15th day (August 23rd) in protest of the rape and murder of Moumita Debnath at RG Kar Medical College on August 9th. They stated, “We have not received justice, so we will not return to work.” Meanwhile, other organizations, including the United Doctors Front Association (UDAF), Resident Doctors Association (RDA), and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), have called off their strikes, but the fight for justice continues.
A Broader Issue: Violence Against Women in India
More tragically, the incident involving Dr. Moumita Debnath is not the first of its kind. Several other doctors, such as Dr. Aradhya, Dr. Priyanka Reddy, Dr. Shweta Sinha, and Dr. Anjali Sinha, have also experienced similar fates. If we look at crime statistics in India, there were 31,516 reported rape cases in 2022, which is roughly 86 rape cases happening every day. This incident has only highlighted the broader issue of violence against women in India.
A Global Outcry for Justice
To date, an online petition on change.org titled ‘Fair Investigation and Justice for the Rape and Murder of a Medical Intern from Kolkata!’ has received nearly 150,000 signatures from around the world. The public hopes that Trainee Doctor Moumita Debnath gets the justice she deserves and that those responsible are punished to the fullest extent.