Kolkata rape-murder case highlights: States must ensure doctors' safety, says Union minister L Murugan

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Union information and broadcasting minister L Murugan on Monday said that state governments are responsible for safeguarding doctors and must adhere to Central guidelines regarding the safety of doctors, particularly women.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team examined several areas of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as part of their probe into the Kolkata rape and murder case.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: BJP's West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar has questioned why Sandip Ghosh, who was the principal during the alleged rape-murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was swiftly reinstated as the principal of another government medical college after his reported resignation.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Union minister Sukanta Majumdar responded to TMC leader Udayan Guha's statement by saying, “How many people's hands will you break, how many fingers will you cut?” He said millions are pointing fingers at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, calling for her resignation. “For the safety of women in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee must step down. I assure everyone protesting against this incident that the BJP stands ready to offer legal assistance. There's no need to be afraid,” he added.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: The health ministry has approved a 25 percent increase in security deployment at all Union government hospitals, officials said, in response to protests by resident doctors who are calling for a central law following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: BJP criticised opposition INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, calling them “political vultures.” The party accused these leaders of “generalising” the rape and murder of a trainee doctor by expressing broad concern about such cases across the country, including in BJP-ruled states.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Senior TMC minister Udayan Guha has sparked controversy by claiming that fingers of those blaming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and demanding her resignation over the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor would be broken.

His threat was heard in a video clip that has gone viral. HT, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

“Those who are attacking Mamata Banerjee, pointing fingers at her, and demanding her resignation will never succeed. Those pointing fingers at Mamata Banerjee will be broken and crushed,” he was heard saying in the video.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia said that Mamata Banerjee organised the march to demonstrate that she is “shameless”. He accused the West Bengal Chief Minister of neglecting the people of the state in favour of maintaining her grip on power.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Monday said that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee failed to arrest the culprits and instead took out a march, which demonstrates her failure.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Speaking on the rape-murder case at Kolkata's RG Kar hospital, BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said that on a day like Rakshabandhan, when the country vows to protect its sisters, the incident in Bengal has shocked the nation. She pointed out that even after several days, the investigation is still incomplete and accused the administration of trying to cover something up.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Congress leader Pawan Khera commented on the victim’s family raising concerns about West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's silence, saying that while Banerjee is not silent, the family's questions must be answered, their grievances addressed, and their doubts heard with sensitivity.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: Veteran doctors joined their juniors to protest the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee inside RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"I belong to the 1964 batch. What has happened in the hospital is just unthinkable and it is the call of the hour to hit the streets to protest", a veteran lady doctor told PTI.

Kolkata rape-murder case LIVE: TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said the CBI officers are doing their best to solve the case.

"I have handed over to CBI all the documents given to me by the doctors of RG Kar Hospital...If before 23rd August a breakthrough is reached, then it is better as the arrested accused is presented before the court on that day, then the remand copy will indicate he was the lone culprit or not," said Ghosh.

He had defended Kolkata police Commissioner when a fellow party MP alleged that the police officer should be subject to judicial interrogation.

RJD leader Manoj Jha accused Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose of playing politics over his comment that women are not safe in West Bengal.

Everyone is agitated at what is happening but you are the custodian of the Constitution. You are damaging the dignity of your chair. No one is stopping you from expressing sympathy but we have never seen you do this before this. One-sided opposition is not right. Don't make a way for politics in such heinous crime," Jha told ANI.

Kolkata murder case LIVE: Kolkata police arrested one person for disclosing the identity of the deceased doctor and also sharing stories with offensive comments against Mamata Banerjee, which the police claimed, posed life threats to her.

The accused will be produced before a court, police told PTI.

Kolkata murder case LIVE: TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy moved Calcutta HC seeking protection from arrest. His move comes after Kolkata police asked Roy to appear for questioning on his allegation that the police did not use sniffer dogs in the crime scene for three days after the incident.

Kolkata murder case LIVE: The students' association of state-run Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute held a protest to condemn the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

The association announced a joint peaceful rally later in the day by students, doctors, resident doctors, and nurses from all the medical, and paramedical colleges in Puducherry to seek justice in the case

Kolkata murder case LIVE: TMC MP Saket Ghokale alleged that genuine protesters have been replaced by youth wing workers from the BJP in Kolkata.

He also alleged that the hashtag #MamataMustResign was used in an organised manner by X handles associated with the BJP.

Kolkata murder case LIVE: Doctors and locals from Mumbai protested at Azad Maidan in Mumbai to condemn the rape and murder of postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata.

"We request the government that every organisation should have safety audit. What is the point if we are not safe even after more than 70 years of independence? Doctors always first think of the patients and not their safety. The workplace has to be safe for us," Dr Prerna Gomes from Jaslok Hospital told ANI

Kolkata murder case LIVE: Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale in a post on X claimed that the BJP is trying to hijack the protest with the ultimate aim to topple the West Bengal government.

Kolkata murder case LIVE: Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, the counsel for the victim's family, condemned the role played by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the incident.

“Wherever there is rape she wants to immediately get into contact with the victim's family, pay them money, and say everything is over. Unfortunately, she has fixed a rate card for the rape victims. She attempts to purchase the witnesses,” he told ANI.

Kolkata murder case LIVE: Former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr. Sandip Ghosh reached the CBI office for the fourth day of interrogation.