Two years after the rape and murder of an on-duty postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, government hospitals and health institutions across West Bengal observed a two-minute silence on Sunday, August 9, in her memory.
The tribute was held at 11 am following a directive from the state Health and Family Welfare Department, with doctors, nurses and other hospital staff participating. At RG Kar, paramilitary personnel also joined the tribute. The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), which spearheaded the doctors’ movement after the 2024 incident, marked the anniversary by organising a free clinic for underprivileged people in Kolkata and renewing its demand for justice.
While Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder, questions about whether others were involved have remained. The victim’s parents have repeatedly sought a wider probe, and the Calcutta High Court in May directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to constitute a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine alleged investigative lapses and possible destruction of evidence.
Two Minutes Of Silence
The West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department issued its directive on August 8, asking establishments under its control to observe silence from 11 am to 11:02 am on August 9. Before the silence, a lamp was lit at government health centres and medical institutions as a tribute to the doctor.
The initiative brought together doctors, nurses and hospital workers, while personnel at RG Kar also participated. According to an IANS report, former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen, who was present at RG Kar, welcomed the government’s decision and called for those accused of destroying evidence to also come under investigation. He said the focus should remain on finding the truth.
The state’s move came as the medical community continued to call for a speedy investigation and stronger security measures in hospitals, particularly for doctors and other healthcare workers who work long and often isolated shifts.
From Nationwide Protests To A Fresh Probe
The doctor’s body was found inside a seminar room at RG Kar on August 9, 2024, triggering widespread outrage, protests and a prolonged movement led by junior doctors. The WBJDF emerged as a common platform during the agitation, demanding justice and safer working conditions for healthcare professionals. The Front also began the ‘Abhaya Clinic’ initiative during the protests, providing medical services to people while continuing its campaign for accountability.
Sanjay Roy was arrested a day after the incident and was later convicted of rape and murder by a Sealdah court in January 2025. He was sentenced to life imprisonment till the end of his natural life, with the court ruling that the case did not meet the legal threshold for the death penalty. However, the victim’s parents have maintained that Roy may not have acted alone and sought a broader examination of the circumstances surrounding the crime. In April 2026, the Calcutta High Court allowed the CBI to re-question Roy and other possible suspects as part of an inquiry into the alleged larger conspiracy.
The following month, the court directed the CBI to form a three-member SIT to examine alleged lapses by the state police and hospital authorities, including concerns over possible destruction of evidence. The court said the inquiry should examine the sequence of events from the night of the incident through the victim’s cremation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Two years after the RG Kar tragedy, remembrance must go beyond ceremonies and become a sustained commitment to safety, accountability and dignity in workplaces.
A two-minute silence can honour a life lost, but lasting justice requires institutions to answer difficult questions transparently, investigate every credible lead fairly and ensure that evidence is protected from the moment a crime is reported. At the same time, the response to such a painful case must remain rooted in due process rather than speculation, political blame or public anger. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers deserve workplaces where they can perform their duties without fear, while victims and their families deserve an investigation they can trust.
The anniversary is therefore not only a moment to remember the doctor, but also an opportunity to ask what has changed since August 9, 2024. Do you think the lessons of the RG Kar case have translated into meaningful improvements in safety and accountability at hospitals?
Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal: On the second anniversary of the RG Kar tragedy, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers observed a two-minute silence at Burdwan Medical College & Hospital pic.twitter.com/331QhpBCNL
— IANS (@ians_india) August 9, 2026
