Family of raped and murdered Indian doctor claims police delayed investigation
31-year-old doctor was found dead at Kolkata hospital on Aug. 9
It's a weekday morning in a suburb of the western Indian city of Kolkata, and the couple in their early 60s can't stop crying.
It's been like this ever since they got the call last month that their only daughter, who had worked hard to get a highly coveted spot in an Indian medical college to fulfull her dream of becoming a doctor, was raped and killed while on a rest break during a long shift at work.
"Our morning starts with us crying and the evening ends with us crying," the victim's father told CBC News in a phone interview. He said it's excruciating to adjust to the fact that his daughter is gone.
"All our dreams have been shattered … destroyed overnight by brutes."
A local man, a police volunteer who worked at the public hospital in Kolkata, was arrested after the attack and remains in custody. But the victim's family believes more people were involved.
The rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar hospital on Aug. 9 led to massive protests and strikes by doctors across India, and has renewed criticism over how authorities are tackling pervasive sexual violence against women.
Several protests ended with police firing tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators.
The victim's father, who can't be named under an Indian law that protects the identity of sexual assault victims, said his grief is mixed with anger at how police have handled the high-profile case.
He said when officers first called, they told the couple their daughter had committed suicide, and once the family arrived at the hospital, they were made to wait several hours before being allowed to see her body.
"They didn't care [about her], they deliberately delayed," he said, referring to how quickly medical tests were conducted after his daughter's beaten body was discovered. "And then, they tried to pass off the suicide theory."
"That's why we've held the police department responsible from Day 1," he said, convinced officers and the hospital administration "tried to destroy evidence."
'Getting justice is the only thing for us now'
The victim's father also alleged a senior police officer offered him money, which he said he refused.
The Kolkata police department did not respond to a CBC request for comment.
Despite its criticism of police tactics, the victim's family said it trusts the judicial process, pointing to the fact India's Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case, with progress tracked by the country's Supreme Court.
"Getting justice is the only thing for us now," the victim's father said, his voice shaking as he described the anguish of losing their only child. "Pain and sadness has become my lifelong partner."
His wife is also clinging to the hope for justice, which she said has been bolstered by the thousands of people who have been crowding the streets of their city in protest after protest.
"This is our biggest support. This has boosted our morale," she said.
'Who is there to protect us?'
In early September, the state of West Bengal passed legislation mandating stricter penalties, including death, for severe cases of rape. Critics dismissed the move, saying tougher sentences don't work as a deterrent in India's deeply patriarchal society.
Safety measures at public hospitals — particularly at the RG Kar hospital, where the victim worked — have come under intense scrutiny as doctors protested across India.
"We are working with a lack of basic amenities," said Dr. Lahari Sarkar, also a trainee physician at the Kolkata teaching hospital. She said there are no proper rest areas or washrooms reserved for female doctors at her workplace, nor is there adequate security.
"How are we working in this environment?" she asked. "Who is there to protect us?"
Several hundred national police officers were deployed to protect the sprawling hospital complex after the killing, but it's unclear how long they will remain on site.
The hospital administration has promised enhanced security measures, such as additional surveillance cameras, but Sarkar said she has seen no movement on that announcement.
She said a pledge made five years ago by the West Bengal government to tackle violence against doctors by implementing better security at public hospitals had no impact.
"This hospital is supposed to be a safe zone for us, after our homes," said Dr. Riya Bera, 29, another postgraduate doctor in the obstetrics and gynecology department.
"It's a very difficult situation to cope [with], and our patience is dwindling."
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