Abhaya's parents seek PM Modi’s intervention for justice, question women’s safety in Bengal

The parents of the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for justice. Speaking on International Women’s Day, the victim’s mother expressed concerns over women’s safety in West Bengal and said she and her husband wanted to meet the Prime Minister.

The junior doctor was assaulted and killed on August 9, inside the state-run hospital premises, triggering national outrage. A sessions court sentenced the convict, Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, to life imprisonment till death on January 20. However, both the CBI and the West Bengal government later filed appeals before the Calcutta High Court, seeking capital punishment.

The victim’s mother alleged that they have not yet received their daughter’s death certificate and questioned the delay in justice. “Our daughter had big dreams. We never imagined she would meet such a tragic end. Seven months have passed, but where is justice?” she said. She further questioned the security of women in workplaces, stating, “If a woman doctor is unsafe at her workplace, then where is the security?”

Reacting to the mother’s appeal, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said there is a formal process to seek an appointment with the Prime Minister. “I am sure that our Prime Minister will give them (the parents) some time and listen to their appeal,” she said. West Bengal finance minister and Trinamool Congress leader Chandrima Bhattacharya, when contacted, said, “Anybody in this country has the right to seek an appointment with the PM and meet him. But we must not forget that it was our leader Mamata Banerjee who took the first step and ensured the culprit was arrested. Even the probe agency could not differ from their findings.”

The Calcutta High Court, on February 7, refused to admit the state government’s appeal challenging the trial court’s sentence of life imprisonment till death while accepting the CBI’s similar plea for a harsher sentence. The victim’s family continues to seek justice, emphasizing their demand for stricter punishment.