RG Kar case: Protestors demand death penalty for Roy outside Sealdah Court

Kolkata: A large crowd gathered outside the Sealdah Civil & Criminal Court on Saturday, demanding the death penalty for Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the RG Kar rape and murder case. Protesters were seen chanting slogans such as “Hang Sanjay Roy” and “We want him hanged”.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das convicted Roy for the brutal rape and murder of a PGT doctor at RG Kar College and Hospital on August 9 last year. However, the court reserved its judgment on the sentence, which will be delivered on Monday, January 20.

During the court proceedings, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, which has been at the fore-front of the RG Kar protests, along with Abhaya Mancha, a civil society group formed during the demonstrations, and several others, held a protest outside the court, chanting slogans demanding the death penalty for the main accused.

Strict security measures were in place outside the court, with hundreds of police personnel secur-ing the gates. Officers of the ranks of Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner were pre-sent while Roy, in a three-car convoy, was brought to the court. Two police SUVs with black-tinted windows accompanied the prison van. After the judgement, police whisked Roy away from the courtroom to the Presidency Correctional Home under strict vigil.

However, after the verdict was announced, junior doctors expressed dissatisfaction. The protest-ers demanded that all individuals involved in the crime be arrested and convicted, alleging that Roy alone was not responsible. Debasish Halder, a junior doctor, stated: “There is no reason to be happy with today’s verdict as many questions remain unanswered. Abhaya, her mother, father, and we won’t get justice until everyone involved receives maximum punishment.” Dr Utpal Banerjee said: “We welcome the verdict, but those involved directly or indirectly, and those who tampered with the evidence must also face justice.”