Indian Police Volunteer Sentenced to Life for Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor

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An Indian court has sentenced a police volunteer to life in prison for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The crime, which occurred on August 9, 2024, sparked national outrage and led to widespread protests by doctors and paramedics demanding better security at public hospitals.

Sanjay Roy, the police volunteer, was convicted by Judge Anirban Das, who found circumstantial evidence sufficient to prove the charges against him. Despite the severity of the crime, the judge decided not to impose the death penalty, stating that it did not fall under the "rarest-of-rare" category. The judge emphasized that life imprisonment in this case meant imprisonment until death.

The court proceedings were swift, with a fast-tracked trial beginning in November 2024. The federal police cited 128 witnesses, of whom 51 were examined during the trial. The investigation also implicated the local police station head and the college head at the time of the crime, accusing them of destroying evidence and tampering with the crime scene.

The victim's parents, who were present in the courtroom, expressed dissatisfaction with the probe, suspecting more individuals were involved in a broader conspiracy. They have demanded that all those responsible be brought to justice. Protesting doctors have vowed to continue their demonstrations until justice is served.