Doctors unveil memorial statue after brutal murder of RG Kar Medical College trainee
Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have unveiled a statue to honor the memory of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at the hospital on August 9. The sculpture, titled Cry of the Hour, was created by renowned artist Asit Sain and symbolizes the pain and trauma experienced by the victim. It has been placed near the PGB Gardens in front of the building housing the principal’s office, as reported by The Indian Express.
The fibreglass sculpture, a bust of a woman screaming, is inscribed with the words “Abhaya,” signifying the victim’s suffering from the "hellish brutality" she endured. Junior doctors involved in the project expressed that the installation serves as a constant reminder of their colleague and their fight for justice. “It is an emotional moment for us,” one junior doctor told The Indian Express. “She was our colleague. We have been fighting for her. She is in our heart, but this installation will ensure no one ever forgets her.”
Another junior doctor, speaking to PTI, added: "This statue is not of the victim, but a symbol of pain, torture she went through and the ongoing protests."
However, the statue has sparked controversy online, with many criticizing it for being disrespectful and insensitive. Social media users condemned the decision to create a statue representing a rape victim’s pain, with one X user questioning, "The doctors of this country are so tone deaf. Why would you ever create a statue like this based on a rape victim?" Others echoed similar sentiments, with one person calling the statue “so weird and disrespectful,” and another remarking, “Indian women can’t even be remembered with pride. It’s either perpetually be in pain or be forgotten.”
Amid this backlash, the junior doctors have remained steadfast in their efforts to seek justice. On Wednesday, thousands of them participated in a protest march organized by the Bengal Junior Doctors' Front, demanding action from the government. The march began at College Street and ended in the Esplanade area, further intensifying their ongoing call for improved safety measures for healthcare workers in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
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11-year-old dies by suicide after sexual assault in Bareilly; accused arrested
Bareilly (UP) (PTI): A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, who later died by suicide due to trauma, police said on Wednesday.
The post-mortem report confirmed sexual assault and multiple injuries on the minor's body, including bite marks and nail scratches. The cause of death was found to be hanging, they said.
According to ASP (South) Anshika Verma, the incident came to light on 27 April, when the girl, a Class 8 student, was found hanging at her home in Deoria Abdullaganj village under the Mirganj police station area. Initially, the family reported the death as suicide and was reluctant to pursue police action.
"The autopsy report changed the course of the investigation. It confirmed sexual assault and noted severe physical trauma. The cause of death was confirmed as hanging," Verma said.
A breakthrough in the case came from the statement of the victim's younger sister, who told police that the accused, Zeeshan (26), a resident of the same village, frequently loitered near the minor's school and allegedly gave her small sums of money to keep his interactions with her a secret, she said.
Police said that on the day of the incident, the accused allegedly lured the minor and assaulted her. Distressed by the incident, the child later took her own life while her mother was away, police said.
"Based on technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and statements from the family, we established Zeeshan's involvement. He was arrested near the Mirganj weekly market on Tuesday," they said.
